Cerebrolysin: clinical evidence record
Also known as: Porcine brain peptide hydrolysate
Oliver Mackman · Editorial director · Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937)
Last updated 2026-05-22
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AI-friendly summary · Cerebrolysin
Used in Eastern European, Central Asian and Asian neurology practice for acute ischaemic stroke, traumatic brain injury and dementia. The Cochrane review of Cerebrolysin in acute ischaemic stroke found no convincing evidence of benefit, alongside a possible signal of harm in some analyses. Not licensed by the EMA or FDA. Not licensed in the UK.
Mechanism of action
How Cerebrolysin works
Not a single peptide. Mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides and free amino acids derived from purified porcine brain tissue via controlled enzymatic hydrolysis. Manufactured by Ever Pharma. Proposed neurotrophic effects in preclinical models.
Top peer-reviewed citations
Selection of the most-cited peer-reviewed literature on Cerebrolysin. Where a verified PMID or DOI is shown, the citation links to the original record. Other citations list the title, authors, journal and year so the reader can locate the paper through the journal index or the PubMed search linked below. PeptideClear publishes editorial commentary, not clinical guidance.
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Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke
Ziganshina LE, Abakumova T, Hoyle CHV. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2020.
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Cerebrolysin for vascular dementia
Cui S, Chen N, Yang M, et al.. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2019.
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Safety and efficacy of Cerebrolysin in acute brain injury and neurorecovery: CAPTAIN I-a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, Asian-Pacific trial
Poon W, Vos P, Muresanu D, et al.. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2020.
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Cerebrolysin in patients with acute ischemic stroke in Asia: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial
Heiss WD, Brainin M, Bornstein NM, et al.. Stroke, 2012.
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Cerebrolysin and Recovery After Stroke (CARS): A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Multicenter Trial
Muresanu DF, Heiss WD, Hoemberg V, et al.. Stroke, 2016.
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Exosomes Released by Cerebrolysin-Treated Cerebral Endothelial Cells Reverse Fibrin- or tPA-Impaired Endothelial Cell Permeability
Teng H, Li C, Wang M, et al.. Cells, 2026.
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Neuroprotective Effects of Cerebrolysin in Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury with Nonoperative Lesions: A 6-Month Prospective Cohort Analysis
Boontoterm P, Sakoolnamarka S, Urasyanandana K. Asian journal of neurosurgery, 2026.
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Retraction Note: Cerebrolysin Attenuates Exacerbation of Neuropathic Pain, Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier Breakdown and Cord Pathology Following Chronic Intoxication of Engineered Ag, Cu or Al (50-60 nm) Nanoparticles
Sharma HS, Feng L, Chen L, et al.. Neurochemical research, 2026.
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Biochemical and Pharmacological Studies on Kynurenic Acid Metabolism in the Helix pomatia-Snail Model of Learning and Memory
Baran H, Kronsteiner C. Biomolecules, 2026.
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[Therapy prospects for post-stroke aphasia]
Bogolepova AN. Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova, 2026.
Full PubMed search: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Cerebrolysin.
Registered clinical trials
As of 2026-07-13, Cerebrolysin has 38 interventional trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov and the ISRCTN registry. Registration means a study is planned, running or completed. It is not evidence of efficacy, and a listing is not an endorsement.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov and the ISRCTN registry, refreshed 2026-07-13. See the peptide clinical-trials tracker for the full picture across compounds.
UK regulatory status
Plain-English summary of where Cerebrolysin sits under the four UK and international frameworks that govern peptide supply. Editorial commentary, not legal advice.
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: Not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
- Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: Not scheduled under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
- MHRA medicines classification: No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine.
- WADA Prohibited List: Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List.
Risks and unknowns
What the literature does not yet show about Cerebrolysin
Known concerns
- Cerebrolysin has been studied in randomised human trials, which is a materially stronger position than most compounds on this site. Trial populations, endpoints and durations are still narrower than everyday use, so results describe the trial, not every person.
- 38 registered interventional trials exist for Cerebrolysin and 16 are recruiting, so the evidence base is actively moving. A registration is not a result, and a recruiting trial has by definition not reported.
- Cerebrolysin holds no UK marketing authorisation, so nothing you can buy has been assessed by a regulator, released by batch, or dispensed by an accountable pharmacy. Purity, dose accuracy and sterility rest entirely on the seller's own documentation.
Open questions in the literature
- Long-term outcomes beyond the duration of the published trials are unknown, and the published trials are considerably shorter than the periods over which people actually use these compounds.
- Interactions between Cerebrolysin and prescribed medicines are not systematically studied, which matters most for anyone already on treatment for a long-term condition.
- Cognitive endpoints are notoriously sensitive to study design, and the measures used in this literature vary enough that results are hard to compare across studies.
Regulatory note
No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine. Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List. The moment a UK seller or commentator makes a therapeutic claim, MHRA can treat the product as an unlicensed medicinal product.
Important: PeptideClear publishes encyclopedia commentary only and does not recommend human use. Speak to a UK-registered prescriber before any medical decision.
Related reading on PeptideClear
Frequently asked questions
What is the evidence level for Cerebrolysin?
What is the UK regulatory status of Cerebrolysin?
Has Cerebrolysin been tested in human clinical trials?
Where can I read the source literature for Cerebrolysin?
Last verified 2026-05-22. Editorial commentary, not legal or clinical advice. Citations without a linked identifier can be located through the PubMed search and the journal index.