Pinealon belongs to the family of short peptide bioregulators (cytomaxes) developed by Khavinson's group as tissue-specific gene expression modulators. The Glu-Asp-Arg tripeptide sequence was isolated from pineal gland polypeptide fractions and shown to modulate gene expression in neural and retinal cells, mimicking some properties of endogenous pineal bioregulators.

Research has documented Pinealon's ability to penetrate cell nuclei and interact with DNA-binding proteins, modulating expression of genes involved in neural survival, antioxidant defense, and circadian regulation. Animal studies show neuroprotective effects against ischemia, hypoxia, and oxidative stress, as well as retinal neuroprotection in models of retinal degeneration.