Cognitive & neuro

ACTH 4-10 (Org 2766)

The nerve-acting fragment of ACTH, developed as a drug candidate for nerve damage and cognitive decline, and abandoned.

Limited evidenceInvestigationalAdd to compare

What it is

ACTH 4-10 is the short fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone that carries behavioural and nerve effects without stimulating cortisol production. A stabilised analogue, Org 2766, was developed in the 1980s as a potential treatment for chemotherapy-induced nerve damage and cognitive decline. It never reached approval, and development stopped.

How it works

1
Acts on melanocortin-4 receptors in the brain, which influence attention and motivation.
2
Facilitates nerve sprouting and regeneration in animal models.
3
Does not stimulate the adrenal cortex, so it avoids steroid effects.
4
Modulates dopamine-dependent behaviours in rodents.
5
Metabolised quickly unless chemically stabilised, as in Org 2766.

What it's studied for

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Nerve regeneration after injury

Cognitive decline in older adults

Parkinson's disease and spinal cord injury

Reported and studied effects

Some small trials suggested faster nerve recovery
Cognitive trials were negative or inconclusive
No reliable clinical benefit established in any indication

Research protocol notes

Research context only

Research context only - an abandoned investigational drug. Trials used subcutaneous or intranasal doses in the microgram to milligram range for weeks to months, with nerve conduction studies or cognitive scales as endpoints. No approved protocol exists.

These figures are described so you can understand what researchers did. They are not a dose, a schedule, or a suggestion — and they are not a substitute for a doctor.

Possible side effects and contraindications

Safety profile

Possible side effects

Nausea
Headache
Skin darkening with larger doses
No corticosteroid effects expected, unlike full ACTH

Contraindications and cautions

No approved use
Pregnancy and childhood - untested
Caution in people with melanoma history because of melanocortin signalling

A side-effect list is never complete, and these are not the only situations that warrant caution. Anything unexpected, or anything you are unsure about, should be discussed with a doctor before use.

Evidence assessment

Limited evidenceSmall human studies or animal data only

Small human studies or animal data only

Several small controlled trials were run decades ago, but the results were negative or inconsistent and development was abandoned.

References

References link to published literature, regulator pages or literature indexes. Where a link points to a search, it collects the peer-reviewed work on that molecule rather than a single study.

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