Cartalax[AED peptide; Ala-Glu-Asp]
Compound snapshot
Class
Research peptide
FDA approved
No
Clinical development
Phase 2
Last reviewed
September 2026
Research areas
Tissue repair / Gastrointestinal lining / Musculoskeletal recovery
Regulatory status
Research use only — not approved
Internet attention
Moderate
Registry query
Cartalax
A synthetic three-amino-acid peptide from the Russian short-peptide 'bioregulator' research program. It is marketed for cartilage and joint ageing, although vendor descriptions sometimes disagree about its exact identity.
Reality check — what we actually know
Supported by human evidence
- No adequately powered randomised human trials establish the outcomes this compound is marketed for.
Animal research only
- Studied in cultured cartilage cells and mesenchymal stem cells for changes in proliferation and ageing markers
- Proposed to influence collagen and proteoglycan-related gene expression
- Explored in limited animal work related to cartilage degeneration
Mechanistically plausible
- The originating research group proposes that the Ala-Glu-Asp sequence influences gene expression in cartilage cells, including pathways related to extracellular matrix and cell ageing. No well-validated receptor target or independently replicated human mechanism has been established.
Common internet claims
- Online discussion frequently presents Cartalax as a proven treatment rather than a research compound.
Not established
- Human efficacy for the outcomes commonly claimed
- Optimal route, quantity and duration in humans
- Long-term human safety
Evidence distribution
Each band is a live PubMed search for Cartalax, filtered to that kind of study. Top is the strongest evidence; the base is reasoning, not proof. A band with no records means that kind of study has not been published for this compound yet.
Mechanism and reported findings
The originating research group proposes that the Ala-Glu-Asp sequence influences gene expression in cartilage cells, including pathways related to extracellular matrix and cell ageing. No well-validated receptor target or independently replicated human mechanism has been established.
- Studied in cultured cartilage cells and mesenchymal stem cells for changes in proliferation and ageing markers
- Proposed to influence collagen and proteoglycan-related gene expression
- Explored in limited animal work related to cartilage degeneration
Strength of the evidence: Very low certainty. The literature is preclinical, small and concentrated in one research network. No controlled human trial has shown that Cartalax rebuilds cartilage, reduces arthritis pain or changes joint outcomes.
Safety and known cautions
No approved product, human safety profile or established clinical use. Online sellers inconsistently describe the sequence, and claims of tissue-specific gene regulation remain unconfirmed independently. Joint pain or swelling requires proper diagnosis rather than a research product.
Evidence at a glance
No single score, on purpose. The line beside each bar shows how much reported outcomes vary between studies.
Development stage
- Discovery
- Preclinical
- Phase 1
- Phase 2Current
- Phase 3
- Regulatory review
- Approved