THYMALIN

Description

Thymalin is a peptide drug originally developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970s.
It is derived from calf thymus extract and belongs to a group of thymic peptides that regulate the immune system.

Key points about Thymalin:

• Origin: Natural polypeptide complex isolated from the thymus gland of young calves.
• Structure: Mixture of small peptides (including thymosin fractions and other thymic peptides).
• Medical use:
  • Stimulates T-cell differentiation and function.
  • Restores immune activity in cases of immunodeficiency.
  • Used in the treatment of infections, chronic diseases, and during recovery from chemotherapy or radiation.
  • Sometimes prescribed to elderly patients to “rejuvenate” immune function.
• Effects:
  • Enhances cellular immunity.
  • Normalizes white blood cell counts.
  • May have anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties.
• Administration: Usually by intramuscular injection, in short courses (e.g., 5–10 days).
• Status: Still used in some Eastern European countries and Russia, but not approved in the US or Western Europe.

It is considered a bioregulator peptide—its closest well-known analogue is Thymosin Alpha-1, which is internationally recognized and used for immune therapy.