Noopept (omberacetam): what the evidence shows

What the human research shows

The same evidence problem as Semax and Selank, with even less to read: one trial, in one country, that cannot be checked from outside.

Evidence profile0–5

Metabolic & weight—0.0
Cardiovascular—0.0
Muscle & growth—0.0
Healing & repair—0.0
Neuro & sleepD0.0
Immune & inflammation—0.0
Sexual & hormonal—0.0
Skin & appearance—0.0
Ageing & longevity—0.0

No benefit outcome for Noopept (omberacetam) has both human evidence and a measurable effect, so the profile is empty. That is the finding, not a gap in the chart.

Outcome	Grade	Effect size	Human studies	Where the evidence comes from
Cognitive impairment after brain injury or stroke	DNo human evidence	Not measurable	1 Russian comparative trial (vs piracetam)	The basis of the Russian registration. Published in Russian in 2008 and in translation in 2009; the indexed record has no abstract, so the size, blinding and outcome measures cannot be assessed from the international literature. Not replicated.1 2
Cognition in healthy people	DNo human evidence	Not measurable	None	The nootropic use it is sold for. No controlled human study.3
Anxiety	DNo human evidence	Not measurable	None controlled	Anxiolytic effects are reported in the Russian literature and in rodents; no controlled human trial.
Safety in humansadverse	DNo human evidence	Not measurable	No systematic international data	Reported as well tolerated in Russian use. No pharmacovigilance dataset outside Russia; no data on long-term use.

AMultiple good human trials, consistentBSome human trials, mostly consistentCFew or weak human studiesDAnimal or anecdotal onlyeffect size · red = adverse

Literature searched to 10 September 2026. Human studies only; animal and cell work informs the mechanism section and nothing else.

What it is

Noopept is not a peptide in the strict sense: it is an ethyl ester built on a proline-glycine dipeptide, designed as a smaller, more potent successor to piracetam. In the body it is metabolised to cycloprolylglycine, a dipeptide that occurs naturally in the brain, which is the proposed active form.

It is sold as tablets and powder, and is one of the most searched nootropics in the world — on the strength of Russian registration, animal studies and forum reports.

How it is thought to work

Proposed mechanisms include increased BDNF and NGF expression, modulation of AMPA glutamate receptors and antioxidant effects, all from rodent and cell work. None has been demonstrated in a human study.

What is still unknown

Whether it does anything measurable in healthy adults — untested.
What the Russian trial actually found; its methods are not accessible in the indexed literature.
Long-term safety.

The molecule and how long it lasts

Identity

Formula: C17H22N2O4
Molecular weight: 318.4 g/mol
CAS number: 157115-85-0
PubChem: CID 180496

PubChem record, read 23 September 2026.

Pharmacokinetics

Route: Oral
Half-life: No human pharmacokinetic data; rat studies only

Animal data only — no human pharmacokinetic study: Boiko SS, et al. Pharmacokinetics of new nootropic acylprolyldipeptide and its penetration across the blood-brain barrier after oral administration. Bull Exp Biol Med 2000

Regulatory status

European Union

Unauthorised medicinal product

No marketing authorisation in any member state. Sold online as a 'supplement', which it is not.

United States

Not approved

Not an approved drug and not a lawful dietary-supplement ingredient.

United Kingdom

Unlicensed medicine

No MHRA licence; supply for human use is an offence.

Australia

Prescription-only / unapproved

Not on the ARTG; imports are seized.

Canada

Not authorised

No Drug Identification Number.

Sport (WADA)

Not on the list

Not named on the Prohibited List.

Questions people actually ask

Is Noopept approved anywhere?

In Russia, since 2007, for cognitive impairment after brain injury or stroke. Not in the EU, US, UK, Australia or Canada.

Does Noopept improve memory or focus?

There is no controlled trial in healthy people. The one clinical study is in patients with brain injury or stroke, published in Russian, and cannot be evaluated from the indexed literature.

Is Noopept a peptide?

It is built from a dipeptide and often called a 'peptide nootropic', but it is a small synthetic ester. Its proposed active metabolite, cycloprolylglycine, is a true dipeptide.

One page per claimed effect

DDoes Noopept (omberacetam) help with cognitive impairment after brain injury or stroke?1 Russian comparative trial (vs piracetam)
DDoes Noopept (omberacetam) help with cognition in healthy people?None
DDoes Noopept (omberacetam) help with anxiety?None controlled
DHow common is safety in humans with Noopept (omberacetam)?No systematic international data

References

1
Neznamov GG, Teleshova ES. Comparative studies of Noopept and piracetam in the treatment of patients with mild cognitive disorders in organic brain diseases of vascular and traumatic origin.Neurosci Behav Physiol, 2009Translation of the 2008 Russian paper. No abstract available in PubMed.
2
Neznamov GG, Teleshova ES. [A comparative study of noopept and piracetam in the treatment of mild and moderate cognitive impairment in patients with organic brain diseases of vascular and traumatic origin].Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova, 2008 (Russian)Original Russian-language report.
3
Searches of PubMed and trial registries for omberacetam / Noopept in healthy volunteers.LYO literature search, September 2026No controlled trial identified.

Change log

2026-09-10Initial publication. Grade D throughout: one unreplicated Russian trial without an indexed abstract.