Epitalon vs Thymosin Alpha-1
Both short peptides with claimed longevity relevance, but with drastically different evidence bases. A useful contrast in how to weigh literature.
Longevity
Epitalon
Synthetic tetrapeptide studied for telomerase activity and pineal regulation in cell and animal models.
Specialty
Thymosin Alpha-1
28-amino-acid thymic peptide studied for Toll-like receptor signaling and T-cell maturation.
Side by side
| Dimension | Epitalon | Thymosin Alpha-1 |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weight A 8.0× difference in mass — these are not comparable on a milligram-for-milligram basis. | 390.35 g/mol | 3108.3 g/mol |
| Size class | small molecule / short peptide | mid-length peptide |
| CAS number | 307297-39-8 | 62304-98-7 |
| Research area | longevity | specialty |
| Sequence | Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly | Not published as a linear sequence |
| Available sizes | 10mg, 50mg | 10mg |
| Entry price | $39 | $59 |
| Cost per mg Cost per milligram differs by more than 3×. Compare against the concentrations your protocol actually requires, not the headline vial price. | $1.38 | $5.90 |
Mechanism
Epitalon
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) developed from research on pineal gland extracts. Published work has examined effects on telomerase expression in somatic cell cultures and circadian regulation in aged animals. A candid note on the evidence base: much of the foundational literature comes from a single institute and is not widely independently replicated. Researchers should weight it accordingly.
Thymosin Alpha-1
Thymosin alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid N-terminally acetylated peptide originally isolated from thymic tissue. It is among the better-characterized immunomodulatory peptides, with published mechanism centering on TLR2 and TLR9 signaling in dendritic cells and downstream effects on T-cell differentiation. Unlike much of this catalog, it has an established clinical literature under the name thymalfasin.
Research applications
Epitalon
- Telomerase activity assays in fibroblast culture
- Melatonin rhythm and pineal function studies
- Cellular senescence marker profiling
- Chromatin structure research in aged cell models
Thymosin Alpha-1
- TLR2 and TLR9 signaling assays in dendritic cell culture
- T-cell maturation and differentiation studies
- Cytokine profiling (IL-2, IFN-γ) in immune models
- Vaccine adjuvant research
Common questions
What is the difference between Epitalon and Thymosin Alpha-1?
Epitalon is synthetic tetrapeptide studied for telomerase activity and pineal regulation in cell and animal models. Thymosin Alpha-1 is 28-amino-acid thymic peptide studied for Toll-like receptor signaling and T-cell maturation. They differ in molecular weight (390.35 vs 3108.3 g/mol) and in the pathways they are studied against.
Which is more cost-effective per milligram, Epitalon or Thymosin Alpha-1?
Epitalon is lower at approximately $1.38 per milligram at its best tier, against $5.90 for the other. Cost per milligram is only meaningful relative to the concentrations a given protocol requires, since these compounds are not used at comparable masses.
Can Epitalon and Thymosin Alpha-1 be studied together?
Combination designs appear in the published literature for a number of these compounds. Whether it is appropriate for a given protocol depends entirely on the model and endpoint. We supply research compounds and do not provide protocol guidance — consult the primary literature for your specific model.
How should Epitalon and Thymosin Alpha-1 be stored?
Store lyophilized powder at -20°C protected from light. Reconstituted solution stable at 2-8°C for up to 30 days. For Thymosin Alpha-1: Store lyophilized at -20°C protected from light. Reconstituted at 2-8°C for up to 30 days.
All products are intended strictly for laboratory research use. Not for human or veterinary use. Not for diagnostic or therapeutic use. Not a drug, food, or cosmetic.
Comparison generated from NuVida Vital catalog data. Every specification is reconciled against the certificate of analysis for the shipped batch.