What it is
Thymogen is a synthetic dipeptide, glutamyl-tryptophan (L-Glu-L-Trp), derived from research on thymic immune factors. It is registered and used in Russia as an immunomodulator, given by injection or intranasally (through the nose). Western clinical data is limited.
In the PeptidesAI encyclopedia it is categorized under immune.
How it's thought to work
Thymogen is described as supporting T-lymphocyte differentiation and normalizing immune cell balance, acting on the same regulatory pathways attributed to thymic peptides such as Thymalin and Thymosin Alpha-1, but as a minimal two-amino-acid sequence.
What the research says
Russian clinical use and research report immunomodulatory effects. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study in elderly patients having surgery for solid tumors in the abdominal cavity found that preoperative Thymogen restored measures of cellular immunity and was followed by fewer postoperative complications and a shorter postoperative period. An epidemiological study in a military training unit reported lower rates, severity and duration of acute respiratory infections with intranasal and subcutaneous Thymogen. Independent Western trials are scarce, and Thymogen is not FDA-approved.
Reported side effects
Occasional injection site reactions, or nasal irritation with the intranasal form, have been reported with Thymogen. Independent Western safety data is limited.
Reconstitution
Thymogen is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder and is typically reconstituted with bacteriostatic (BAC) water before use. It commonly comes in 1 mg and 2 mg vials. The amount of peptide in the vial is fixed; the water added only changes how concentrated the solution is.
Worked example. A 2 mg vial is 2,000 mcg. Reconstituted with 2 mL of BAC water, that works out to 2,000 mcg ÷ 2 mL = 1,000 mcg/mL. On a U-100 insulin syringe, where each unit is 0.01 mL, each unit holds 1,000 × 0.01 = 10 mcg. Use the peptide reconstitution calculator to work out the concentration and units for any vial size and water volume.
Important notes
Thymogen is registered in Russia and is not FDA-approved. The evidence base is largely non-Western.
Sources
- The First Reciprocal Activities of Chiral Peptide Pharmaceuticals: Thymogen and Thymodepressin, as Examples.. Deigin V et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024. Review
- [Application thymogen for preoperative preparation of elderly patients with tumor processes in abdominal cavity].. Smirnov VS et al. Advances in Gerontology, 2011. Human trial
- [The clinico-epidemiological efficacy of thymogen in acute respiratory viral infections in a military collective].. Furgal SM et al. Voenno-Meditsinskii Zhurnal, 1993. Human trial
Frequently asked questions
These questions cover the same ground as the sections above, in a shorter format.
What is Thymogen?
A synthetic dipeptide (glutamyl-tryptophan) derived from research on thymic immune factors, registered in Russia as an immunomodulator and given by injection or intranasally.
How is Thymogen thought to work?
It is described as supporting T-lymphocyte differentiation and normalizing immune cell balance, acting on pathways attributed to thymic peptides such as Thymalin and Thymosin Alpha-1.
What does the research on Thymogen say?
Russian studies, including a double-blind randomized trial in elderly surgical patients, report immunomodulatory effects. Independent Western trials are scarce.
What are the reported side effects of Thymogen?
Occasional injection site reactions, or nasal irritation with the intranasal form, have been reported; independent safety data is limited.
How much is one unit from a 2 mg Thymogen vial?
With 2 mL of BAC water, a 2 mg vial is 1,000 mcg/mL, so one unit on a U-100 syringe (0.01 mL) holds 10 mcg.
The full entry, plus the calculator
The PeptidesAI app has the complete encyclopedia entry for Thymogen — one of 70 compounds covered — plus the reconstitution calculator, a dose log and reminders. Free to download on iPhone.
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