Cerebrolysin

Cerebrolysin is not a single peptide but a mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides and free amino acids produced by enzymatic breakdown of porcine brain protein. It is given by intravenous infusion and is licensed in Russia, China, South Korea and several other countries for stroke and dementia. It holds no EMA or FDA approval, and European stroke guidance advises against its use.

1. 1

   Supplies peptide fragments proposed to mimic neurotrophic factors such as CNTF, IGF-1 and GDNF.

2. 2

   Animal studies report reduced excitotoxicity and calpain activation.

3. 3

   Proposed anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects on neurons and glia.

4. 4

   Reported reduction of amyloid precursor protein processing in models.

5. 5

   Because it is a mixture, no single molecular target has been defined.

• Several small trials reported better stroke scale scores
• Cochrane review of acute ischaemic stroke found no beneficial effect on death or disability
• Dementia trials showed inconsistent, mostly small improvements
• Infusion-site reactions are the commonest adverse event

1. 01PubMed search - Cochrane review of Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke
2. 02PubMed search - Cerebrolysin dementia trials

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.