Thymalin

Thymalin is a polypeptide complex extracted from the thymus gland of young calves. Developed in Russia by the same team behind Epithalon, it has been used clinically for decades in post-Soviet medicine alongside oncology treatment. Unlike Thymosin Alpha-1 (a single peptide), Thymalin is a broader thymic extract containing multiple bioregulatory peptides.

Properties

Contains a mixture of thymic peptides that restore T-lymphocyte maturation and differentiation. Increases IL-2 and IL-6 production, normalises the CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio, activates NK cells, and promotes B-cell antibody production. Effectively reverses thymic involution (the age-related shrinkage of the thymus) and chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression.

Russian clinical studies show Thymalin significantly reduces post-chemotherapy infections, accelerates neutrophil recovery, and improves long-term survival in elderly cancer patients when used as adjuvant immunotherapy. 25-year follow-up studies (Khavinson, 2003) show markedly reduced cancer incidence and mortality in elderly patients treated with repeated Thymalin courses. Used in some European integrative oncology centres.

Links open on PubMed (National Library of Medicine). Research is ongoing — results may not reflect clinical use.

• Bovine-derived — allergy or religious restrictions possible
• Most research is from Russian-language literature; limited Western peer-reviewed trials
• Not approved by FDA or EMA; available as research compound
• Requires intramuscular or subcutaneous injection
• Refrigerate; short shelf life once reconstituted