Cartalax (20 mg vial)

Protocol Overview

Concise summary of the regimen.

Dosing & Reconstitution

Administration is subcutaneous, once daily, for 8 to 12 weeks, with an optional extension to 16 weeks at the top dose. Evidence note: specific human RCT posology for subcutaneous Cartalax is limited, and this schedule references preclinical fibroblast and chondrocyte studies alongside general subcutaneous technique guidance. At the fixed 2.0 mL reconstitution the concentration is 10 mg/mL, so per-injection volumes sit between 0.20 mL and 0.50 mL, which stays within typical subcutaneous tolerability parameters and keeps every dose to a single injection on a U-100 syringe. Sites are rotated systematically across abdomen, thighs, and upper arms to avoid lipohypertrophy, and the needle is held in place for 5 to 10 seconds before withdrawal at the larger volumes.

Results Timeline

Sequence described in the research record. Individual response varies.

• Weeks 1 to 2: titration opens at 2.0 mg daily, the low end of the 2,000 to 5,000 mcg range, at 20 units per injection.
• Weeks 3 to 4: the daily dose steps to 3.0 mg, or 30 units per injection.
• Weeks 5 to 8: the daily dose steps to 4.0 mg, or 40 units per injection, completing the shortest full cycle.
• Weeks 9 to 12: the daily dose reaches the 5.0 mg top of the range, or 50 units per injection.
• Weeks 13 to 16: an optional extension holds the top dose for those running the longer protocol.

Reconstitution Steps

1. Draw 2.0 mL bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe.
2. Insert the needle through the stopper and let the diluent run slowly down the vial wall; avoid foaming.
3. Gently swirl or roll until fully dissolved (do not shake).
4. Label with date and concentration; refrigerate at 2 to 8 °C, protected from light. At 10 mg/mL, 1 unit = 0.01 mL » 100 mcg on a U-100 insulin syringe, so 2.0 mg = 20 units, 3.0 mg = 30 units, 4.0 mg = 40 units, and 5.0 mg = 50 units.

Storage Instructions

Proper storage preserves peptide quality.

• Lyophilized: store at 2 to 8 °C, or freeze at minus 20 °C for long-term stability.
• Reconstituted: refrigerate at 2 to 8 °C and avoid freeze-thaw cycles.

• Allow vials to reach room temperature before opening to reduce condensation uptake.
• Label each reconstituted vial with the date and the 10 mg/mL concentration, and keep it out of direct light.

Supplies Needed

The figures below are based on an 8 to 16 week daily protocol with gradual titration, averaging about 3.5 mg per day, which works out to about 24.5 mg per week.

Peptide Vials (Cartalax, 20 mg vial):

• At that average, 8 weeks totals about 196 mg, which is about 10 vials of 20 mg; 12 weeks totals about 294 mg, about 15 vials; and 16 weeks totals about 392 mg, about 20 vials.

Insulin Syringes (U-100):

• Per week: 7 U-100 insulin syringes, one per day.
• Full cycle: 56 syringes over 8 weeks, 84 over 12 weeks, and 112 over 16 weeks.

Bacteriostatic Water (10 mL bottles):

• Each 20 mg vial takes 2.0 mL, so one 10 mL bottle covers 5 vials, which means 2 bottles for 8 weeks (10 vials), 3 bottles for 12 weeks (15 vials), and 4 bottles for 16 weeks (20 vials).

Alcohol Swabs:

• Per injection: 2 swabs, one for the vial stopper and one for the site, which is 14 per week.
• Full cycle: 112 swabs over 8 weeks, 168 over 12 weeks, and 224 over 16 weeks (3 boxes of 100-count).

Important Notes

Practical considerations for consistency and safety.

• Use new sterile insulin syringes for every injection and dispose of them in a sharps container.
• Rotate injection sites across abdomen, thighs, and upper arms to reduce local irritation.
• Inject slowly and wait a few seconds before withdrawing the needle, which matters more at the 0.40 mL and 0.50 mL volumes reached later in the titration.
• Evidence caveat: published human clinical trial data for subcutaneous Cartalax is limited, and this protocol extrapolates from preclinical fibroblast and chondrocyte studies.
• Regulatory Note: Cartalax is not an approved drug and is supplied for research use only, not for human consumption. Nothing here is medical advice, and the master sheet lists no WADA classification for this compound.

How This Works

Cartalax (Ala-Glu-Asp) is classified among the Khavinson bioregulatory peptides, ultrashort peptides that may interact with DNA and modulate gene expression at nanomolar concentrations. The peptide sequence corresponds to a motif found in the alpha-1 chain of type XI collagen, a structural protein important for cartilage integrity. In preclinical fibroblast and chondrocyte culture models, Cartalax has been reported to upregulate Ki-67 (a proliferation marker), increase SIRT-1 and SIRT-6 expression, reduce p53 and caspase-3 activity, and inhibit MMP-9 synthesis, an enzyme linked to extracellular matrix degradation.

Benefits & Side Effects

Observations from the published record.

• May support fibroblast proliferation and reduce markers of cellular senescence in aged cell cultures.
• Preclinical data suggest modulation of extracellular matrix homeostasis via MMP-9 inhibition and collagen-related gene expression.
• Reported reductions in pro-apoptotic signaling (p53, caspase-3) alongside increased SIRT-1 and SIRT-6 expression in culture models.
• Khavinson bioregulator peptides have been described as well tolerated in observational settings.
• Side effects: mild injection-site reactions may occur, and local irritation is the main practical concern at daily frequency.
• Limitations: there are no large-scale human RCTs, and most data derive from in vitro or rodent models.

Lifestyle Factors

Complementary strategies for best outcomes.

• Support joint and connective-tissue health with adequate protein, vitamin C, and collagen precursors.
• Combine low-impact exercise and mobility work to reinforce musculoskeletal adaptations.
• Prioritize sleep and stress management to support tissue repair and recovery.
• Keep the daily dosing time consistent across the cycle so exposure stays even through the titration.

Injection Technique

General subcutaneous guidance from clinical best-practice resources.

1. Clean the vial stopper and skin with alcohol; allow to dry.
2. Pinch a skinfold; insert the needle at 45 to 90 degrees into subcutaneous tissue.
3. Do not aspirate for subcutaneous injections; inject slowly and steadily.
4. Wait 5 to 10 seconds before withdrawing; dispose of syringe in sharps container.
5. Rotate sites systematically (abdomen, thighs, upper arms) to avoid lipohypertrophy.

References

Source citations for further reading.

1. Lin'kova NS et al. Peptide Regulation of Skin Fibroblast Functions during Aging In Vitro (Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2016).
2. Khavinson VK. Peptides and Ageing: bioregulatory peptide mechanisms (Neuroendocrinology Letters, 2002).