Thymosin Alpha-1

approved

Also known as: Thymalfasin, Zadaxin, Tα1

Thymosin Alpha-1 (Tα1), a 28-amino acid peptide derived from the thymus, primarily modulates immune function by enhancing T-cell maturation, differentiation, and activity. It acts through Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling, particularly TLR2 and TLR9, leading to activation of dendritic cells and increased production of cytokines such as interferon-alpha and interleukin-2. This mechanism promotes a shift toward a Th1-dominant immune response, improving antigen presentation and cytotoxic T-cell activity. Tα1 also reduces apoptosis in immune cells and supports regulatory T-cell balance, contributing to its immunomodulatory effects. Key research findings demonstrate Tα1’s efficacy in enhancing immune responses against viral infections and as an adjuvant in vaccination protocols. Clinical studies have shown improved survival and reduced infection rates in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C, as well as enhanced immune recovery in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with sepsis or undergoing cancer therapy. Tα1 has also been investigated for its role in improving vaccine responses, including in influenza and COVID-19 contexts, and for its potential to modulate immune dysfunction in autoimmune conditions. Clinically, Thymosin Alpha-1 is approved in over 30 countries (e.g., as Zadaxin) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and as an immune adjuvant in various infectious diseases and cancer immunotherapy protocols. It is administered subcutaneously and has a favorable safety profile, with mild local reactions being the most common adverse effects. Despite its approval status, ongoing research continues to explore its utility in broader immune-related disorders, including HIV, cystic fibrosis, and as a supportive therapy in checkpoint inhibitor regimens. For research purposes only — not medical advice.

Key data

Category
Immune Modulation
Molecular weight
3108.3 g/mol
Molecular formula
C129H215N33O55
CAS number
62304-98-7
Administration
subcutaneous
Research status
approved
References
622
Tags
immune, thymic, approved, antiviral

Research & studies

Thymosin α-1 in cancer therapy: Immunomodulatory mechanisms, clinical applications, and translational perspectives
European journal of pharmacology · 2026 · PubMed

Tα1 promotes T-cell maturation and Th1 polarization, enhances natural killer cell activity, and modulates dendritic cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells.; Preclinical and clinical studies suggest Tα1 may have antitumor activity and enhance chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors.; Tα1 may improve immune infiltration in immunologically 'cold' tumors and help mitigate certain immune-related adverse events from immunotherapy.; Clinical investigations in non-small cell lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and metastatic melanoma report a favorable safety profile and potential benefits, but evidence is limited and heterogeneous.

Neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy plus thymalfasin in locally advanced gastric cancer: a prospective clinical trial
BMC medicine · 2026 · PubMed

pCR was achieved in 30.0% (9/30) and MPR in 56.7% (17/30) of patients.; ypN0 status occurred in 63.3% (19/30), with N-stage downstaging in 80.0% (24/30).; Any-grade AEs occurred in 93.3%, grade 3 AEs in 26.7%, and immune-related AEs in 23.3%.; Flow cytometry showed CD8 T cell expansion with increased CD69 and reduced HLA-DR-positive T cells; RNA-seq revealed upregulation of antigen processing/presentation and type I interferon signaling genes.

Aging and Thymosin Alpha-1
International journal of molecular sciences · 2025 · PubMed

Aging causes thymic involution, reducing T-cell production and increasing susceptibility to age-related diseases.; Thymosin alpha-1 has immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that restore immune function.; Tα1 improves vaccine response in the elderly and mitigates immunosenescence in preclinical and clinical studies.; Refnot, a fusion of TNF and Tα1, offers reduced toxicity and promising therapeutic potential for age-related immune dysfunction.

The Immunomodulatory Activity of Thymosin Alpha 1 on Tumor Cell Lines and Distinct Immune Cell Subsets
OncoTargets and therapy · 2025 · PubMed

Tα1 produced minimal changes in differentially expressed genes and immune-related biological processes in the tumor cell lines tested, suggesting a lack of transcriptional immunomodulatory potential on tumor cells.; Tα1 directly affected proliferation and/or transcription processes of each studied immune cell subset from healthy donors.; The greatest transcriptional impact of Tα1 was observed in activated CD8+ T cells, which are crucial players in anti-tumor immunity.; The findings question the tumor immunomodulatory properties of Tα1 and support further investigation of its effects on specific immune cell subsets in the periphery or tumor microenvironment.

Unveiling lymphocyte dynamics: Navigating postoperative immune landscapes in gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic D2 gastrectomy
International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology · 2025 · PubMed
Thymosin α1 reverses oncolytic adenovirus-induced M2 polarization of macrophages to improve antitumor immunity and therapeutic efficacy
Cell reports. Medicine · 2024 · PubMed

ADV induces M2 polarization of TAMs and increases Treg infiltration in the TME.; Tα1 reprograms M2-like TAMs toward an antitumoral phenotype.; ADV-Tα1 combination therapy enhances antitumor efficacy via CD8+ T cells.; Findings support clinical translation for oncolytic adenovirus combination therapy.

Phenotypic drug discovery: a case for thymosin alpha-1
Frontiers in medicine · 2024 · PubMed

PDD screens compounds based on functional effects without requiring knowledge of specific molecular targets.; PDD can lead to unexpected therapeutic applications and addresses the complexity of human diseases.; Challenges in PDD include hit validation and target deconvolution, but significant achievements have been made in the big data era.; The article uses thymosin alpha-1 as a case study to show how PDD applies to a thymic peptide hormone in preclinical and clinical settings.

Effect of thymalfasin on myeloid-derived suppressor cells in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
American journal of translational research · 2024 · PubMed

Frequently asked questions

What is Thymosin Alpha-1?

Thymosin Alpha-1 (Tα1), a 28-amino acid peptide derived from the thymus, primarily modulates immune function by enhancing T-cell maturation, differentiation, and activity. It acts through Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling, particularly TLR2 and TLR9, leading to activation of dendritic cells and increased production of

How does Thymosin Alpha-1 work?

28-aa thymic peptide that enhances T-cell maturation and TLR signaling; approved in many countries for hepatitis and as an immune adjuvant.

What is the research status of Thymosin Alpha-1?

Thymosin Alpha-1 is currently classified as approved, with 622 research references on record. This is for research purposes only and is not medical advice.

What is the molecular weight of Thymosin Alpha-1?

Thymosin Alpha-1 has a molecular weight of approximately 3108.3 g/mol (formula C129H215N33O55).

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