{"id":"cortexin","name":"Cortexin","aliases":["Korteksin","cortex polypeptides","porcine/bovine brain cortex peptide extract"],"url":"https://lyoresearch.com/compounds/cortexin","class":{"id":"nootropic-peptides","name":"Nootropic and sleep peptides","url":"https://lyoresearch.com/classes/nootropic-peptides"},"summary":"Cortexin is a mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides extracted from calf and pig brain cortex, registered in Russia and given by injection for stroke, brain injury and cognitive impairment. Its best evidence is a 272-patient double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in ischaemic stroke published in Russian in 2014, whose abstract reports 'high efficacy' without a primary endpoint or a figure. No trial has been published in an international journal. It is not approved anywhere this site covers.","overall_grade":"C","overall_grade_meaning":"weak human evidence","human_trials":"1 double-blind RCT (n=272, Russian); open trials","regulatory_status":"Not approved (Russia only)","molecule":{"formula":null,"molecular_weight":null,"cas":null,"pubchem_cid":null,"note":"An undefined mixture of brain-cortex peptides under 10 kDa — no molecular identity"},"pharmacokinetics":{"basis":"none","route":"Intramuscular as used clinically","half_life":"No pharmacokinetic data (an undefined peptide mixture)","licensed_regimen":null,"product":null,"source":null},"outcomes":[{"outcome":"Recovery after ischaemic stroke","grade":"C","grade_meaning":"weak human evidence","effect_size":"small","adverse":false,"human_studies":"1 double-blind RCT (n=272, 70 days)","evidence":"Two ten-day courses of 10 mg three times daily were compared with one course and with placebo. The abstract reports a benefit for two courses and recommends the drug; it gives no endpoint, effect size or statistics.","references":[{"citation":"Aliferova VM, et al. Clinical efficacy and pharmacoeconomic characteristics of the neuroprotection with low doses of cortexin in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (in Russian).","where":"Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova, 2014","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24874316/"}],"verbatim":{"text":"A multicenter prospective double-blind placebo-controlled trial has been carried out.","citation":"Aliferova VM, et al. Clinical efficacy and pharmacoeconomic characteristics of the neuroprotection with low doses of cortexin in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (in Russian).","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24874316/"}},{"outcome":"Cognitive impairment","grade":"D","grade_meaning":"no human evidence","effect_size":"not measurable","adverse":false,"human_studies":"Open-label Russian reports","evidence":"Uncontrolled series in encephalopathy and after stroke; nothing that can be graded above D.","references":[{"citation":"Open clinical trial of cortexin in treatment of brain ischemia (in Russian).","where":"2014","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25403301/"}]}],"regions":[{"region":"European Union","status":"Not authorised","note":"No marketing authorisation; supply for human use is unlawful."},{"region":"United States","status":"Not approved","note":"Not FDA-approved."},{"region":"United Kingdom","status":"Not licensed","note":"Unlicensed medicine."},{"region":"Australia","status":"Not on the ARTG","note":"Not registered."},{"region":"Canada","status":"Not authorised","note":"No Drug Identification Number."},{"region":"Sport (WADA)","status":"Prohibited at all times","note":"Unapproved by any regulator WADA recognises, so S0 (non-approved substances)."}],"faq":[{"q":"Is cortexin the same as cerebrolysin?","a":"Same idea, different animal and maker: both are brain-peptide extracts from the Russian and Austrian traditions. Cerebrolysin has Cochrane reviews (negative or inconclusive); cortexin has one Russian trial."},{"q":"Does cortexin work for stroke?","a":"The one double-blind trial says yes in its abstract and gives no numbers. That is not enough to know."}],"references":[{"cite":"Aliferova VM, et al. Clinical efficacy and pharmacoeconomic characteristics of the neuroprotection with low doses of cortexin in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (in Russian).","where":"Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova, 2014","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24874316/","note":"272 patients; double-blind, placebo-controlled; abstract reports no figures."},{"cite":"Open clinical trial of cortexin in treatment of brain ischemia (in Russian).","where":"2014","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25403301/","note":"Uncontrolled."}],"last_reviewed":"2026-09-23","literature_searched_to":"2026-09-23","changelog":[{"date":"2026-09-23","note":"Initial publication. Grade C on one unreportable Russian RCT."}],"license":"CC BY 4.0 — cite as “LYO Research” with a link.","methodology":"https://lyoresearch.com/methodology"}