Cartalax

Lyophilized powder

Cartalax is a synthetic Khavinson tripeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp) studied in preclinical cell models of cartilage and connective tissue. Human data is minimal. Below: today's vial sizes, prices through our link and the vendor's COA details.

Size

$3.36/mg · In stock

Price

$67.15

List

$79.00

Buy 20 mg at Ion Peptide

Price shown uses code thepeptidecatalog at Ion Peptide's checkout (15% off list).

Sold by Ion Peptide. The Peptide Catalog does not sell peptides; we earn a commission if you buy through this link, at no extra cost to you. For laboratory research use only, not for human or veterinary use. Not FDA-approved. Nothing on this page is medical or dosing advice.

Cartalax research vial
CartalaxIon Peptide
Third-party testedResearch use only
Certificate of AnalysisVendor-stated: Third-party tested · HPLC + MS · COA per productView
  • Vendor-stated testing: Third-party tested · HPLC + MS · COA per product
  • Listed on our cartalax vendor comparison, ordered by our vendor rankings
  • Lyophilized powder · laboratory research use only
Research-context information only. Cartalax is a research peptide. Protocols, doses, and reactions reported below come from published research and self-reported community sources. This article reports what has been documented, not what should be done. Consult a licensed physician for personal medical decisions.

Vial sizes listed by the vendor

Cartalax Vial Sizes & Prices

Cartalax vial sizes, prices and lots at Ion Peptide
SizeListWith our codePer mgAvailability
20 mg$79.00$67.15$3.36In stock

Prices checked today, 5:20 AM CT on Ion Peptide's site, with code thepeptidecatalog applied. Vendor-stated testing: Third-party tested · HPLC + MS · COA per product. The lot certificate is on Ion Peptide's product page. Sizes not re-checked in the last 7 days are hidden. The vendor's checkout is final.

Test results

Cartalax Certificate of Analysis

Ion Peptide posts the certificate on each product page (vendor-stated: Third-party tested · HPLC + MS · COA per product). Match the lot number on the vial to its certificate.

View the Cartalax certificate on Ion Peptide's product page.

How to check one: how to verify a peptide COA.

Cartalax Dosing in Clinical Research

Cartilage / Connective Tissue (preclinical)

Educational reference only. Individual responses vary. Consult healthcare provider before use.

Vial Size
20 mg
Reconstitution
2 ml BAC water (10 mg/ml)
Dose
~1 mg (community-reported; no trial dose)
Timing
AM
Frequency
Once daily
Duration
Short 10-20 day courses (community convention)
Protocol Notes
Khavinson AED tripeptide. Evidence is preclinical cell-culture work only — there is no clinical-trial-established human dose. Figures shown are community-reported, not validated.

Why This Dosing Protocol

Why no defined dose? Unlike peptides with published Phase 2 protocols, Cartalax has only preclinical cell-culture data, so there is no trial-established human dose. Community protocols use low-dose, short (10-20 day) subcutaneous courses by analogy to the older Khavinson bioregulators.

Why short courses? The bioregulator theory holds that brief peptide exposure triggers gene-expression changes that persist after dosing stops — which is convention from the class literature, not a tested Cartalax protocol.

How Cartalax Works

Khavinson Peptide Bioregulator — AED Tripeptide (Preclinical)

Target → Signal → Effect → Outcomes

1
Target

Gene-Regulatory Regions in Connective-Tissue Cells

Cartalax is the synthetic tripeptide Ala-Glu-Asp (AED), part of the Khavinson family of short "peptide bioregulators." The proposed mechanism is epigenetic: short peptides are theorized to interact with gene-regulatory regions and modulate tissue-specific gene expression. This model is drawn from the broader bioregulator literature, much of it from a single Russian research program.

2
Cellular Signal

Shifts in Repair-Related Gene Expression (In Vitro)

In cell culture, the AED peptide raised IGF1 gene expression several-fold in aging human mesenchymal stem cells. A 2023 review grouped AED among short peptides studied for chondrogenic (cartilage-forming) stem-cell regulation. These are gene-expression changes measured in a dish — not effects demonstrated in tissue, animals, or people.

3
Systemic Effect

Theorized Cartilage / Connective-Tissue Support

The marketed effect — cartilage and joint support — is an extrapolation from the peptide's cartilage-tissue origin and its in vitro gene effects. There is no human clinical trial showing Cartalax improves joint symptoms or rebuilds cartilage, so the systemic effect is hypothesis, not demonstrated outcome.

4
What You Notice

Unestablished in Humans

Because there is no human efficacy data, there is no documented "felt" effect. Community reports are mixed anecdote. "No noticeable change" is fully consistent with what is currently known about Cartalax.

What Makes This Peptide Different

Cartalax belongs to the Khavinson short-peptide bioregulator class, theorized to act as tissue-specific epigenetic signals rather than receptor agonists. What distinguishes Cartalax is not strength of evidence — it is the opposite: it is marketed for joints largely on the basis of cell-culture gene-expression work and its cartilage-derived sequence, with no human clinical trials behind it.

Technical specifications

Cartalax chemical & analytical data

Form
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder in a sealed vial
Presentation
20 mg
Regulatory status
Research peptide; research-grade vials are not FDA-approved.

Cartalax Reconstitution Calculator

Dilution math and unit conversions. Prefilled using a common vial size for this peptide.

Open calculator

Storage & Handling

Storage at a glance

Proper storage temperatures, shelf life, reconstitution best practices, and travel tips for lyophilized and reconstituted peptides.

Powder: Freezer
1+ year at -20°C
Reconstituted: Fridge
4 weeks max at 2-8°C
View Complete Storage Guide

Handling specifics

Educational overview on storage, labeling, and traceability considerations for lab environments. Consult primary literature and vendor documentation for specifics.

Powder storage (very stable)
  • Freezer (-20°C): 1+ year
  • Refrigerator (2-8°C): 1-3 months
  • Room temperature: 2-3 weeks (emergency only)
Reconstituted storage (fragile)
  • MUST refrigerate at 2-8°C
  • 4-week maximum shelf life
  • NEVER freeze after reconstitution
  • Use bacteriostatic water for multi-dose

7 answers

Cartalax FAQ: Buying, COA, Storage & Research

What is Cartalax?
Cartalax is a synthetic tripeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp, or AED) from the Khavinson family of short "peptide bioregulators." The sequence was derived from peptide complexes isolated from cartilage tissue, and it is marketed for joint and connective-tissue support. Its proposed mechanism is epigenetic — short peptides nudging tissue-specific gene expression. Importantly, the published research is preclinical: cell-culture and gene-expression studies, mostly from Russian laboratories, with no controlled human trials.
How strong is the evidence behind Cartalax?
Weak. The evidence base is small and entirely preclinical. The most concrete finding is that the AED peptide raised IGF1 gene expression several-fold in aging human mesenchymal stem cells in culture (Ashapkin et al., 2020), and a 2023 review listed AED among peptides studied for chondrogenic stem-cell regulation. There are no human clinical trials, no FDA evaluation, and no large independent replications. Treat it as an early-stage research compound, not a proven therapeutic.
What dose of Cartalax do people use?
There is no clinical-trial-established human dose. Community and vendor sources describe low-dose subcutaneous courses — commonly a few hundred micrograms to a few milligrams once daily for short 10-20 day courses — extrapolated from preclinical work and general bioregulator handling. These are community conventions, not validated protocols.
Does Cartalax actually repair cartilage in humans?
There is no human clinical trial showing Cartalax repairs cartilage or relieves joint symptoms. The cartilage framing comes from the peptide's tissue origin and from in vitro gene-expression work. Any "cartilage repair" claim should be read as theoretical until human data exists.
How long does reconstituted peptide last?
Once mixed with bacteriostatic water, peptides remain stable for up to 4 weeks when refrigerated at 2-8°C (36-46°F). Unopened powder can last 1+ year in the freezer. Get our complete Storage & Travel Guide.
Is this peptide legal to purchase?
Peptides sold "for research purposes only" are legal to purchase in the US, but are not FDA-approved for human use outside of specific medical applications. Always consult a healthcare provider before use.
New to peptides?
Take our Peptide Match tool to find the best peptide for your goals. You can also read our Complete Guide to Peptides to learn the basics.

Cartalax Research Articles

Compare Cartalax Vendors Before You Buy

Disclosure: we may earn affiliate commission from qualifying purchases. Educational information only — not medical advice.