Cortexin
Also known as: polypeptide cortical fraction
Cortexin is a low-molecular-weight polypeptide fraction from animal cerebral cortex proposed to act as a multi-target neuroprotectant by modulating glutamate (AMPA, kainate, mGluR) and GABA-A receptors, inhibiting brain caspase-8, and influencing neurotrophic and antioxidant pathways.
- Drug class
- Animal-derived polypeptide neuroprotective bioregulator (brain peptide hydrolysate)
- Primary targets
- AMPA receptor, kainate receptor, mGluR1, mGluR5, GABA-A receptor, caspase-8
- Dose reference
- Reference only (not a recommendation): Russian clinical use describes intramuscular injection of the reconstituted lyophilizate as a short daily course (commonly ~10 days) with separate adult and pediatric strengths; preclinical models used ~0.5 mg/kg IM.
- Half-life
- Not established; as a multi-component peptide hydrolysate it has no well-characterized human elimination half-life
- Developer / origin
- Originated in St. Petersburg, Russia; manufactured by Geropharm / Pharm-Holding CJSC
- Reference year
- 1999
- Evidence score
- 2/5 - low certainty (mostly Russian-language evidence, high risk of bias)
low certainty (mostly Russian-language evidence, high risk of bias)
Cortexin has extensive domestic Russian clinical use for stroke, encephalopathy and cognition plus a coherent multi-target neuroprotective mechanism, but independent evidence is weak. A peer-reviewed systematic review found essentially one eligible Cortexin cognitive trial (~80 patients) rated high risk of bias, and Cochrane assessment of the brain-peptide class urged caution without clear functional benefit in stroke.
Mostly animal, ex vivo, cell, or indirect evidence.
Evidence basis
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of animal-derived nootropics found one eligible high-risk-of-bias Cortexin trial; data precluded meta-analysis (PMC9616232)
- Cochrane review of Cerebrolysin/Cerebrolysin-like agents (incl. Cortexin) in acute ischaemic stroke found no clear benefit and possible increase in serious non-fatal adverse events (PMC10565895)
- Mechanistic in vitro/proteomic work supports receptor modulation, caspase-8 inhibition and protein binding partners but is preclinical (PubMed 30499504, 26356623)
- Animal models show neuroprotective and behavioral signals, including dose-dependent hyperactivity/arousal (PLOS ONE; Open Neuropsychopharmacology Journal)
Key references
- PubMedMolecular mechanisms of brain peptide-containing drugs: cortexin
- PubMed CentralThe efficacy and safety of animal-derived nootropics in cognitive disorders: Systematic review and meta-analysis
- PubMed Central / CochraneCerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke (Cochrane Review)
- PLOS ONENeuroprotective action of Cortexin, Cerebrolysin and Actovegin in acute or chronic brain ischemia in rats
How to read this entry
Dose references and half-life values are pulled from trial protocols, labels, reviews, or published summaries where available. They are context for research and comparison, not a personal dosing recommendation.
Status matters: approved drugs have regulated indications; investigational compounds are still being studied; research-only peptides do not have established human dosing, safety, or efficacy for consumer use.
Cortexin guides
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