THE VANGUARD BLOG
Physician-curated deep dives into the science of men's health optimization.
Monograph
Phenibut (β-phenyl-γ-aminobutyric acid) is a Russian-developed compound first synthesized in the 1960s as an anxiolytic and is registered as a pharmaceutical in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Latvia for conditions including anxiety, insomnia, and…
30 May 2026
Monograph
The racetam class — defined by a 2-pyrrolidinone (2-oxopyrrolidinyl) core structure — was the first and remains the most consequential synthetic nootropic class. Piracetam was synthesized by Corneliu Giurgea at UCB Pharma in 1964 and coined the term…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Polygala tenuifolia (Chinese name: yuan zhi, 远志) is a perennial herb whose root has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over two thousand years. Classical TCM indications focused on insomnia, restlessness, palpitations, cognitive…
30 May 2026
Monograph
NSI-189 is a small-molecule compound developed by Neuralstem (now Seneca Biopharma) as a novel antidepressant working through neurogenic mechanisms — specifically, stimulation of hippocampal neurogenesis. It progressed through Phase 1 and Phase 2…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Bromantane (N-(2-adamantyl)-4-bromoaniline) is a Russian-developed compound classified as an 'actoprotector' — a class describing agents that increase physical and cognitive performance under stress without the side-effect profile of classical…
30 May 2026
Monograph
AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide), also called acadesine or simply AICA riboside, is an AMP analog that activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) — the central cellular energy sensor and metabolic regulator. Activation of…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Pinealon (Glu-Asp-Arg) is a synthetic tripeptide developed by Vladimir Khavinson and colleagues at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology. It is part of the broader Khavinson 'short peptide' bioregulator program, which has…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Semax (a synthetic analog of the N-terminal fragment of ACTH 4-10) and Selank (a synthetic analog of tuftsin) were developed by Russian scientific research institutes beginning in the 1980s-1990s. Both are registered medications in Russia for…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, ursodiol) is a hydrophilic, low-toxicity bile acid that occurs naturally as a minor component of human bile (~1-3% of total bile acids) and as a major component of bear bile. Synthetic UDCA was developed in the 1970s and…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Colchicine is an alkaloid extracted from autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), with documented medical use for over 2,000 years. Its modern indications include acute and prophylactic gout, familial Mediterranean fever, and pericarditis. Over the past…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) are a family of bioactive lipid mediators derived enzymatically from omega-3 fatty acids — primarily EPA and DHA. They include the resolvins (E-series from EPA, D-series from DHA), protectins (from DHA),…
30 May 2026
Monograph
Niacin (nicotinic acid, vitamin B3) at pharmacologic doses (typically 1,500-2,000 mg/day) has substantial effects on the lipid profile — raising HDL by 15-35%, lowering triglycerides by 20-50%, lowering LDL by 5-25%, and lowering lipoprotein(a) by…
30 May 2026
Bug report, content request, or general comment — we read everything.