Cardiogen Nasal Spray
20 mg of the Khavinson tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg (AEDR) as a sterile solution in bacteriostatic water, in a metered spray bottle. Made from a peptide lot tested in the manufacturer’s own laboratory, with a certificate.
| Compound | Cardiogen Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg (AEDR); Khavinson cardiac peptide bioregulator |
|---|---|
| CAS number | Not assigned |
| Molecular formula | C18H31N7O9 |
| Theoretical mass | 489.5 Da |
| Sequence / structure | H-AEDR-OH (4 residues; free N- and C-termini) |
| Contents | Cardiogen: 20 mg per bottle (≤ 0.2% w/v) |
| Form | Sterile aqueous solution in bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol), supplied in a metered nasal spray bottle |
| Storage, sealed | Store at 2–8 °C, protected from light; do not freeze |
| Format | Solution in a metered nasal spray bottle |
Sizes and lots
- 20 mg · 1 bottle — $118.99
- 20 mg · Kit of 10 — $1057.82
Cardiogen nasal spray holds the tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg, AEDR, a 489.5 Da peptide from the Khavinson bioregulator series, as a sterile solution: 20 mg per bottle in bacteriostatic water, at no more than 0.2% w/v. The name is also used for Cardiogen-82, an unrelated rubidium generator. Research on AEDR covers fibroblast cultures and docking models, while studies of nasal delivery belong to a separate pharmaceutical literature that has not examined this peptide.
What is in the bottle
The bottle contains 20 mg of Cardiogen, the same AEDR sequence sold freeze-dried in the Cardiogen 20 mg vial, at or below 0.2% w/v in bacteriostatic water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol. The safety data sheet lists no other ingredients, so the solution contains no mucoadhesive polymer or absorption enhancer. The peptide is not classified; benzyl alcohol carries warnings for harm when swallowed or inhaled, eye irritation and allergic skin reactions.
Store the bottle upright and capped at 2 to 8 °C, away from light, and do not freeze it. See peptide storage and stability for general guidance on peptide solutions.
What the research covers
Nasal delivery of peptides has its own literature, and most of it is about formulation. Ugwoke and colleagues reviewed nasal mucoadhesive delivery in 2005, noting that poor absorption through the nose can be countered with absorption enhancers or by keeping the drug in the nasal cavity longer, and that some mucoadhesive polymers do both1. The review covered small molecules, antibiotics, proteins, vaccines and DNA. It does not mention AEDR, and this spray contains neither kind of excipient.
What is known about AEDR comes from the bench. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts exposed to it made more actin, tubulin and vimentin and more lamin A and C, and the authors linked this to earlier reports of cardioprotective activity2. Docking models from 2023 suggest AEDR could be carried into cells by the LAT1, LAT2 and PEPT1 transporters, a prediction not tested in cells3.
Frequently asked questions
Is the spray the same Cardiogen as the vial?
Yes. The vial, pen and spray all contain the tetrapeptide Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg. The vial is a dry powder stored frozen; the spray is a sterile solution in bacteriostatic water stored at 2 to 8 °C. Each of the three holds 20 mg.
What else is in the bottle?
Only bacteriostatic water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a preservative. The safety data sheet lists no mucoadhesive polymer, absorption enhancer or other excipient, and it gives the peptide at no more than 0.2% w/v.
Has Cardiogen been studied as a nasal spray?
No. None of the Cardiogen studies cited here used the nasal route; they are a fibroblast culture experiment and a computer docking model. The nasal delivery review on this page covers formulation in general and does not mention Cardiogen.
References
- Ugwoke MI, Agu RU, Verbeke N, et al. Nasal mucoadhesive drug delivery: background, applications, trends and future perspectives. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2005;57(11):1640-65. DOI · PubMed
- Khavinson VKh, Lin'kova NS, Polyakova VO, et al. Tetrapeptide H-Ala-Glu-Asp-Arg-OH stimulates expression of cytoskeletal and nuclear matrix proteins. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2012;153(4):559-62. DOI · PubMed
- Khavinson VK, Linkova NS, Rudskoy AI, et al. Feasibility of Transport of 26 Biologically Active Ultrashort Peptides via LAT and PEPT Family Transporters. Biomolecules. 2023;13(3). DOI · PubMed
For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary consumption. Products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.