KEDW
Evidence Grade E — Very limited evidence. 7 published studies. 0 registered clinical trials.
Pancragen is a synthetic tetrapeptide from the Khavinson bioregulator programme, proposed to target pancreatic tissue. Among Khavinson peptides, it has relatively more data — including a small human study (63 elderly patients) and a primate study (5 animals). It has no regulatory approval outside Russia.
7 published studies: 3 human, 4 animal, 0 in-vitro, 0 reviews
Pancragen has no marketing authorisation from any major regulatory agency. A nonhuman primate study (5 treated animals) and a human study (63 elderly patients across three groups) have been reported, representing more clinical data than most Khavinson bioregulator peptides.
Despite having relatively more data than other compounds in this programme, the human study was small and its methodology has not undergone Western regulatory review. Products available through unregulated channels lack pharmaceutical quality assurance.
Research from the Khavinson group proposes that Pancragen may upregulate pancreatic transcription factors involved in beta-cell development and maintenance. These proposed effects are based on cell culture and animal studies. The mechanisms derive from the Khavinson bioregulation framework.
Research suggests approximately 8-10 published papers exist, nearly all from the Khavinson group. The presence of human and primate data distinguishes Pancragen from most other Khavinson peptides. However, sample sizes are tiny (5-33), no double-blind randomised trials have been conducted, and statistical reporting lacks confidence intervals. No pharmacokinetic data have been published. No independent Western replication exists. Products from unregulated channels lack pharmaceutical quality assurance.
No trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov for this compound.
The information on this page is provided for educational and research reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.
Exenatide was the first GLP-1 receptor agonist approved anywhere, reaching the market as Byetta in April 2005. The once-weekly formulation Bydureon followed in 2012. Clinical trials showed blood sugar reductions (HbA1c) of 1.6–1.9% and modest weight loss of 2–4 kg. The EXSCEL cardiovascular outcomes trial, involving over 14,700 patients, showed a trend toward cardiovascular benefit but narrowly missed statistical significance. While exenatide was groundbreaking as the first in its class, it has been largely overtaken by newer GLP-1 treatments that offer greater efficacy, less frequent dosing, and proven cardiovascular benefits. It remains available and in clinical use, particularly in combination products.
Lixisenatide was marketed as Adlyxin in the US (approved July 2016), though it has since been discontinued in the US market. The ELIXA cardiovascular trial, involving over 6,000 patients, was the first cardiovascular outcomes trial for any GLP-1 medication to report results. It showed a neutral cardiovascular profile — neither harmful nor beneficial — meeting safety requirements but not demonstrating the heart benefits later shown by semaglutide and liraglutide. Lixisenatide found its primary clinical role in combination with basal insulin, marketed as Soliqua (lixisenatide plus insulin glargine). This combination addresses both fasting blood sugar (via insulin) and post-meal spikes (via lixisenatide) in a single daily injection. As a standalone treatment, it has been largely superseded by more potent GLP-1 medications.
Pramlintide is marketed as Symlin (approved March 2005) and remains the only approved amylin-based treatment. It is used alongside mealtime insulin in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Clinical trials showed modest blood sugar improvements (HbA1c reductions of 0.2–0.6%) and approximately 2.3 kg of weight loss — less dramatic than GLP-1 treatments but meaningful as an add-on therapy. Symlin carries a boxed warning for severe hypoglycaemia, particularly when combined with insulin, and requires careful dose adjustment. Practical uptake has been limited by the need for separate injections at each meal alongside existing insulin injections. Despite its modest clinical impact, pramlintide remains the only medication that addresses the amylin deficiency in diabetes, filling a distinct biological role that GLP-1 treatments do not cover.
