B
Tier
Porcine brain-derived neuropeptide mixture for cognition and stroke recovery.
Cognitive & Mood
Peptide mixture, porcine brain derived
WADA Status:
Not listed
Human Trial Scoreboard
Completed human RCTs
7 RCTs, Cochrane pooled
Largest Human Study
1,773 pooled, Cochrane 2023
Longest exposure
Duration not verified
Most Recent Trial
Cochrane found no benefit
Description
Cerebrolysin is unusual in this database because it has actually been tested properly. It is not a single peptide but a mixture of small peptides and amino acids extracted from pig brain tissue, manufactured by Ever Pharma in Austria and marketed in dozens of countries for stroke and dementia. Because it has been used widely for decades, a substantial body of trial evidence accumulated, and Cochrane reviewers assembled and assessed it. Their 2023 review of acute ischaemic stroke pooled seven randomised trials covering one thousand seven hundred and seventy three participants and found probably no beneficial effect on death, alongside a signal suggesting more non-fatal serious adverse events. Widespread use in many countries turns out not to be the same thing as demonstrated benefit.
What Are The Claims
Claims made for this compound: Neurotrophic peptide mixture used clinically abroad; Largest evidence base among nootropic peptides; Proposed cognitive and recovery support (Cochrane: probably little or no benefit)
Evidence
This is the rare entry where the compound was studied properly and more evidence made the picture worse rather than better. The 2023 Cochrane review by Ziganshina and colleagues concluded that Cerebrolysin probably has no beneficial effect on death in acute ischaemic stroke, and flagged a potential increase in non-fatal serious adverse events. The separate Cochrane review on vascular dementia, by Cui and colleagues in 2019, declined to recommend routine use, citing small trial numbers, methodological limitations, and high risk of bias across the available studies. Approval in some jurisdictions and evidence of benefit are different things, and this compound is a clean demonstration of the gap.
Evidence Strength
Moderate (human RCTs) but shows NO benefit
Caveats
Cochrane found probably little/no effect and a potential increase in non-fatal serious adverse events; not FDA-approved.
Safety
Alternative Measures
Legal Status
US
Not approved
UK
Not approved
EU
Not centrally approved; marketed in some countries
AU
Not approved
WADA
Not listed
Approved in Russia, China, and parts of Eastern Europe for stroke and dementia indications. Not FDA-approved and not approved in the EU.
Citations
Ziganshina LE et al. (2023). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. CD007026.pub7. Acute ischaemic stroke. | Cui S et al. (2019). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. CD008900.pub3. Vascular dementia.