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Retinalamin

Also known as: Retinalamine, Retina polypeptides, Cattle retina polypeptide complex
Preliminary evidence FDA: not-FDA-approved WADA: Not listed

Retinalamin is a polypeptide bioregulator complex extracted from bovine retinal tissue, developed within the Khavinson bioregulator framework at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. It is the retina-specific member of the Cytomax polypeptide-complex family — the same theoretical lineage as Cortexin (brain) and Thymalin (thymus). Its active peptide fractions are thought to act on retinal and retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells via tissue-specific peptide signaling. It is not FDA-approved; the published evidence is real but predominantly Russian-language and below Western trial grade. For educational purposes only. Not medical advice. Unlike synthetic single-peptide drugs, Retinalamin is a heterogeneous polypeptide

This content is for educational and research purposes only. VialBase does not provide medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before using any peptide.

Molecular weight —
Half-life No published human PK; parabulbar depot localizes to the posterior segment biodistribution
CAS number —
Route Parabulbar (sub-Tenon) · Intramuscular parabulbar (sub-Tenon) preferred
02

Mechanism

Polypeptide complex extracted from bovine retina. Its low-molecular-weight peptide fractions are taken up by retinal and retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells and are proposed to act as tissue-specific epigenetic bioregulators — normalizing gene expression, stimulating RPE proliferative and inductive activity, and supporting photoreceptor and retinal ganglion cell survival under degenerative or ischemic stress. Characterized mainly in Russian ophthalmology research and cell-culture models, not FDA-grade human trials.

03

Dosing

DOSE RANGE 5 mg reconstituted per injection (standard lyophilized vial)
FREQUENCY 1×/day
CYCLE LENGTH 10-day courses, often repeated 1–2×/year

Published Russian protocols reconstitute a 5 mg vial and give it parabulbar (sub-Tenon) or intramuscularly for a 10-day course. Not oral — peptides are degraded in the GI tract. These figures reflect research/clinical protocols in the Russian literature, not doses validated in controlled Western trials.

04

Research summary

Study Type Year Key Finding
Effects of peptides on proliferative activity of retinal and pigmented epithelial cells In vitro (cell culture) 2003 Retinal peptides (the class of active fractions in Retinalamin) significantly stimulated proliferative activity of retinal and retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells
Polypeptide bioregulators in the treatment of different-type abiotrophy of the retina Clinical series 2005 Polypeptide bioregulators including Retinalamin were used in hereditary retinal abiotrophies (retinitis pigmentosa and related degenerations)
The influence of long-term retinal protective therapy on glaucoma progression Clinical (longitudinal) 2020 Evaluated long-term retinal-protective (bioregulator) therapy in patients with glaucoma over an extended follow-up
Retinoprotective effects of Retinalamin studied in an experimental model of photochemical damage to rabbit retinas Animal (rabbit; photochemical retinal damage model) 2021 Retinalamin reduced photochemical damage to rabbit retinas compared with untreated control
Investigation of ligand-receptor interaction and biodistribution of a drug containing cattle retina polypeptides Preclinical pharmacology (biodistribution / ligand-receptor) 2021 Characterized ligand-receptor interaction and tissue biodistribution of the cattle-retina polypeptide drug (Retinalamin)
Objective structural and functional monitoring of polypeptide retinal neuroprotective therapy in diabetic retinopathy Clinical (structural/functional monitoring) 2024 Used objective structural and functional measures to monitor polypeptide retinal neuroprotective therapy in diabetic retinopathy
05

Stacking & interactions

Paired neuro/retinal bioregulator support along the optic pathway

Systemic longevity + pineal axis (Epithalon has its own retinal RP research)

Additive tissue antioxidant / regenerative signaling

What bloodwork do I need?

Reference ranges are general guidelines. Consult your physician for interpretation.

PRE-CYCLE
  • CMP
  • CBC
DURING CYCLE
  • None required (localized ocular effect)
POST-CYCLE
  • CMP
Safety & Regulatory Status
FDA STATUS not-FDA-approved
WADA STATUS Not listed

Regulatory status for Retinalamin may change. Verify current status with your jurisdiction before use. This is not legal or medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Retinalamin?
Retinalamin is a polypeptide bioregulator derived from bovine retinal tissue, used clinically in Russian ophthalmology for retinal protection and visual function support across conditions including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and hereditary retinal degenerations.
How does Retinalamin work?
Retinalamin acts as a tissue-specific bioregulator: its constituent peptides are taken up by retinal cells and operate epigenetically to normalize gene expression, stimulate proliferative activity of retinal pigmented epithelial cells, and support photoreceptor and ganglion cell survival. The active fractions have been shown to induce differentiation of retinal progenitor-type cells in culture.
What conditions has Retinalamin been studied for?
Peer-reviewed studies document use in photochemical retinal damage models (demonstrating retinoprotection), diabetic retinopathy (structural and functional monitoring studies through 2024), glaucomatous optic neuropathy (including long-term progression data), and hereditary retinal degenerations (abiotrophy/retinitis pigmentosa context). All published human work is from Russian ophthalmology centers; no Western RCTs exist.
How is Retinalamin dosed?
Clinical protocols from published Russian literature reconstitute a 5 mg vial and give it by parabulbar (sub-Tenon) or intramuscular injection in short 10-day courses, sometimes repeated 1–2× per year. It is not used orally. These figures reflect research protocols only — consult a clinician before use.
Is Retinalamin FDA-approved?
No. Retinalamin is not FDA-approved. It is used clinically in Russia and Eastern Europe and is available through international bioregulator suppliers. It does not have regulatory approval in the US, EU, or UK.
Is Retinalamin the same as Epithalon or Pinealon?
No. All three are Khavinson-developed polypeptide bioregulators, but they target different tissues. Retinalamin is a retina-specific extract. Pinealon targets the pineal gland/CNS; Epithalon (AEDG tetrapeptide) is derived from the pineal gland and has separate retinal research — the two are distinct compounds with different source tissues and peptide sequences.

References

  1. Khavinson VKh et al.. Effects of peptides on proliferative activity of retinal and pigmented epithelial cells. Bull Exp Biol Med (2003). PMID: 12937684
  2. Khvatova AV et al.. Polypeptide bioregulators in the treatment of different-type abiotrophy of the retina. Vestn Oftalmol (2005). PMID: 15881150
  3. Strakhov VV et al.. The influence of long-term retinal protective therapy on glaucoma progression. Vestn Oftalmol (2020). PMID: 33056965
  4. Suetov AA et al.. Retinoprotective effects of Retinalamin studied in an experimental model of photochemical damage to rabbit retinas. Vestn Oftalmol (2021). PMID: 34726859
  5. Verlov NA et al.. Investigation of ligand-receptor interaction and biodistribution of a drug containing cattle retina polypeptides. Vestn Oftalmol (2021). PMID: 34726863
  6. Malakhova AI et al.. Objective structural and functional monitoring of polypeptide retinal neuroprotective therapy in diabetic retinopathy. Vestn Oftalmol (2024). PMID: 39569781