Vilon Nasal Spray
10 mg of the Khavinson thymic dipeptide 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 | Vilon Lys-Glu (KE); Khavinson thymic peptide bioregulator |
|---|---|
| CAS number | 45234-02-4 |
| Molecular formula | C11H21N3O5 |
| Theoretical mass | 275.3 Da |
| Sequence / structure | H-KE-OH (2 residues; free N- and C-termini) |
| Contents | Vilon: 10 mg per bottle (≤ 0.1% 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
- 10 mg · 1 bottle — $58.99
- 10 mg · Kit of 10 — $524.42
This is Vilon, the Khavinson dipeptide Lys-Glu (KE), supplied as a sterile solution in a metered nasal spray bottle that holds 10 mg of peptide. At 275.3 Da it is the smallest molecule in the bioregulator series, which its developers associated with the thymus and immune function. The research behind it is mainly Russian cell and rat work from one group, none of it by the nasal route; a separate review literature covers nasal delivery of peptides in general.
What is in the bottle
Each bottle contains 10 mg of Vilon dissolved in bacteriostatic water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a preservative, at no more than 0.1% w/v. In molar terms, 10 mg of a 275.3 Da peptide is about 36 µmol. The safety data sheet does not classify the peptide. Benzyl alcohol carries hazard statements for harm if swallowed or inhaled, serious eye irritation and allergic skin reactions.
Keep the bottle upright and capped at 2 to 8 °C, away from light, and do not freeze it. The same peptide is sold dry in the Vilon 20 mg vial, and the peptide storage and stability article covers general handling of peptide solutions.
What the research covers
Vilon research comes almost entirely from Vladimir Khavinson's group in St Petersburg and its collaborators. In rats aged 3 and 11 months, Vilon given by mouth changed the activity of several digestive enzymes, among them maltase, invertase and alkaline phosphatase, and the change was greatest in the older animals1. That paper, like most of the Vilon work, was published in Russian and is read in English translation. In leukocytes from people aged 75 to 88 it was one of five short peptides that loosened condensed chromatin and activated ribosomal genes2. The group reads results like these as evidence that short peptides regulate genes, a model that has not been tested outside its own circle in the papers cited here.
Nasal delivery is a separate subject. Illum's 2002 review described rising pharmaceutical interest in the nasal route for peptides and other difficult drugs, and discussed evidence that some drugs travel from the nose directly to the brain along the olfactory pathway, with proof-of-concept examples in humans3. That review did not study Vilon, and no Vilon paper cited here used the nose. Whether the dipeptide crosses the nasal lining, and where it goes if it does, is not known from these sources. The Vilon guide covers the full literature on the compound.
Frequently asked questions
Is the spray the same Vilon as the vial?
Yes. The bottle holds the same Lys-Glu dipeptide described in the specifications, already dissolved in bacteriostatic water. The vial holds 20 mg of dry powder stored at −20 °C; the spray holds 10 mg in solution, stored at 2 to 8 °C and never frozen.
Has Vilon been studied as a nasal spray?
No paper cited on this page did so. The Vilon studies used human leukocytes and rats, and the nasal delivery review discusses peptides in general. There are no published findings specific to this format to point to.
References
- Khavinson VK, Timofeeva NM, Malinin VV, et al. Effect of the dipeptide vilon on activity of digestive enzyme in rats of various ages. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2001;131(6):583-5. DOI · PubMed
- Khavinson VKh, Lezhava TA, Malinin VV. Effects of short peptides on lymphocyte chromatin in senile subjects. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2004;137(1):78-81. DOI · PubMed
- Illum L. Nasal drug delivery: new developments and strategies. Drug Discov Today. 2002;7(23):1184-9. 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.