Independent · non-commercial · publishes on a quarterly cycle|Current cycle 2026 Q3
Compound Evidence InstituteEvidence synthesis · established 2023Graded assessments of compounds, trials, methods and supply
Document set current to 30 July 2026
Compound monograph · §2

Thymosin beta-4 — pharmacology

Molecular targets, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics and interactions as characterised in humans.

Document identifier
CEI-MN-032/2
Series
Compound monograph
Version
2.0
Published
13 Jun 2023
Last reviewed
13 Dec 2023
Next review
13 Dec 2025
Identifier
10.71829/cei.mono.32
Certainty
Low
Cycle
2023 Q2

§2Pharmacology

§2.1Molecular targets

Table 2. Molecular targets recorded for Thymosin beta-4, with the character of the interaction and the potency where the Institute holds it.

TargetInteractionNote
G-actin (intracellular)Sequestering proteinThe principal characterised function; maintains the monomeric actin pool
ATP synthase and other reported partnersSecondary interactionsReported but not established as therapeutically relevant

§2.2Mechanism of action

Thymosin beta-4 sequesters monomeric actin and thereby regulates cytoskeletal dynamics, cell migration and wound repair. Extracellular administration in preclinical models promotes angiogenesis, keratinocyte and endothelial migration, and reduces inflammation and fibrosis. Clinical development pursued dry-eye disease, epidermolysis bullosa and cardiac repair.[1,2]

§2.3Pharmacokinetics

Terminal half-life
≈2 h after intravenous administration in early-phase study
Time to maximum concentration
end of infusion (intravenous)
Volume of distribution
not published
Plasma protein binding
not extensively bound
Clearance
not published
Bioavailability
not established for subcutaneous administration

Proteolytic degradation. Endogenous plasma concentrations are measurable, which complicates pharmacokinetic interpretation of administered doses.

Reconstructed plasma concentration–time profilePlasma concentration plotted against time after dosing, reconstructed from published pharmacokinetic parameters.0.00.20.40.602468Time after first dose (hours)Relative concentrationt max ≈ 1 ht½ ≈ 2 h
Modelled profileSimulated observationsDose administration
Figure 2. Illustrative. Plasma concentration–time profile reconstructed by the Institute from the published half-life and time-to-maximum-concentration parameters using a one-compartment model with first-order absorption. The curve is not digitised from a published figure and its vertical scale is relative. It is published to convey the shape of the profile and the approach to steady state, not to supply a concentration at any time point.

§2.4Interactions

  • Not characterised

References cited on this page

References are numbered in order of first citation in this document. Each superscript in the text links to its entry below.

  1. Goldstein AL, Hannappel E, Sosne G, Kleinman HK. Thymosin β4: a multi-functional regenerative peptide. Basic properties and clinical applications. Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy 2012;12(1):37–51. doi:10.1517/14712598.2012.634793 · PMID 22074294
  2. D’Hondt M, Bracke N, Taevernier L, Gevaert B, Verbeke F, Wynendaele E, De Spiegeleer B. Related impurities in peptide medicines. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis 2014;101:2–30. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2014.06.012 · PMID 25044089

Identifiers are reproduced only where the Institute holds them. Where a digital object identifier or PubMed identifier is not shown, the Institute has recorded the journal and year and has not constructed an identifier.

Nothing published by the Institute is medical advice, a diagnosis, a prescription, a treatment recommendation or a purchasing recommendation. Compounds supplied for research use are not approved for human or veterinary use in any jurisdiction, and a favourable analytical assessment of a supplier is not a statement that any product is safe or effective. The Institute publishes certainty ratings and never recommendations. No telephone number, messaging handle or ordering channel appears anywhere on this site.