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Crx2.0
Cortexin Research
Too few graded studies
23 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Too few graded studies
Cortexin doesn't have enough studies with structured effect-size data yet to pool a verdict. Browse the studies below for individual findings.
Most evidence is from medium-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1999–2026 with a typical study size of 120 participants.
Based on 23 studies · 1 meta-analysis · 12 RCTs · 120 total participants
Confidence
Moderate confidence
By outcome
Cognitive functionMarketed for faster neurological/cognitive recovery after stroke, but supporting human data are unblinded and it often underperforms comparator drugs. · Not established
Too few graded studies20 studies
Neuroprotection & brain agingA brain-derived polypeptide studied for post-stroke neuroprotection; plausible receptor-level/antioxidant effects in animals but no better than saline in a rigorous animal comparison, and human trials are unblinded. · Not established
Too few graded studies11 studies
Active research area
10 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2021
199920122026
1RCT2006
Skorokhodov AP, Dudina AA, Kolesnikova EA, Koron AE, Kobantsev IuA, Sedova AA · Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova (2006)
No plain-language summary recorded for this citation — open the paper to read its abstract.
2RCT2018
Fedin AI, Belskaya GN, Kurushina OV, Kovalchuk VV, Starych EV, Chichanovskaya LV · Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova (2018)
No plain-language summary recorded for this citation — open the paper to read its abstract.
Aliferova VM, Dadasheva MN, Doronin BM, Kovalenko AV, Lokshtanova TM, Martynov MIu · Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova (2014)
No plain-language summary recorded for this citation — open the paper to read its abstract.
9Review2025
In plain English: Cortexin is presented as a promising drug that meets modern requirements for rational neuroprotection in chronic cerebral ischemia.
Zakharov DV, Zakharova IV. · Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova (2025)
The article reviews the key pathogenetic mechanisms of CCI: microcirculatory disorders, glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation.
The results of experimental and clinical studies demonstrating the effectiveness of Cortexin in conditions of ischemic brain damage are presented.
Biomarkers confirming the effect of Cortexin on the reduction of neurotoxicity (in particular, NR2-peptide concentration), enhancement of antioxidant activity and modulation of cytokine profile are analyzed separately.
In plain English: The domestic drug Cortexin is one of the most promising drugs for further clinical trials.
Putilina MV. · Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova (2025)
Traditionally applied treatment standards, strict glycemic control does not allow us to talk about complete correction of manifestations and/or reducing the risk of developing DPN without CI or mild CI.
In recent years, the possibilities of peptide drugs to reduce CI and chronic neuropathic pain have been actively studied.
Neuropeptides of animal origin combine the functions of hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters, ion channel ligands, and anti-inflammatory agents.
In plain English: The results of the study support considering transcranial electrical stimulation as an effective and pathogenetically justified component of complex therapy for post-COVID syndrome with neurological symptoms, accompanied by chronic fatigue and cognitive impairment.
Rubel AD, Gumenyuk LN, Bobrik YV. · Voprosy kurortologii, fizioterapii, i lechebnoi fizicheskoi kultury (2025)
In both groups, Cortexin was used as the pharmacotherapy.
The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated using the MFI-20, MoCA, and CGI-S scales, as well as plasma levels of TNF- α , IL-1 β , and IL-6.
Conclusion The results of the study support considering transcranial electrical stimulation as an effective and pathogenetically justified component of complex therapy for post-COVID syndrome with neurological symptoms, accompanied by chronic fatigue and cognitive impairment.
In plain English: The findings suggest that a multimodal approach to restorative treatment, combining neuroprotective medications with high-intensity magnetic therapy, demonstrates considerable therapeutic efficacy in the medical rehabilitation of patients with ischemic stroke.
Results In Group I, a 27% reduction in lower limb spasticity was noted on day 14, whereas Group II exhibited a 25% reduction, with Group III demonstrating a 15% reduction.
USDG data indicated that 52% of patients in Group I showed increases in maximum and linear blood flow velocity in both the right and left vertebral arteries after treatment, compared to 41% in Group II and 20% in Group III.
The mean score on the NIH Stroke Scale for Group I patients at discharge was 9.3±0.2 points, and the Rankin scale score was 2.1±0.2 points.
In plain English: It should be noted that the positive results of this study can be considered a decrease in the severity and severity of symptoms of dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, and a decrease in the index of anxiety sensitization in patients of all observation groups.
Ivonina NA, Petrov KB. · Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova (2025)
The second study of patients showed a significant improvement in vestibular balance, a decrease in anxiety and sleep disorders, especially in patients receiving complex therapy.
In the third test, patients receiving Cortexin and Recognan showed statistically significant positive changes in almost all indicators: VSS-ST-V and VSS-ST-A subscales (average score 27.15±2.83), insomnia, and ASI-3.
Patients receiving complex therapy had the most statistically significant changes.
In plain English: Cortexin therapy has been shown to be effective, safe and well tolerated in young people with cognitive deficits in the poststroke period.
Shchepankevich LA, Rerikh KV, Gribacheva IA, Popova TF, Taneeva EV, Tyazhelnikov NE, Sokolova DV, Boznyakov AV. · Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova (2024)
Low quality of life scores persisted until the third visit; a significant improvement in SF-36 results was recorded at visit 4 and persisted with a positive trend at the fifth visit.
Delayed neuropsychological testing showed encouraging results - the achieved level of cognitive functioning was maintained (28.0±1.1).
According to SF-36 questionnaire at the stage of inclusion in the observation, low results were noted, which indicated the negative impact of the underlying disease on the daily life of the patient who had suffered a stroke.
In plain English: The intravenous form of Cortexin administration has been proven to be no less effective than the intramuscular form in restoring functional, neurological and cognitive deficits in patients with acute AI.
The study included 490 patients with acute IS, male (54.1%) and female (45.9%) aged from 30 to 80 years (average age 63.97+8.5 years), divided into 2 groups: 1 - main (Cortexin intravenous form, n =246), 2 - comparison (Cortexin intramuscular form, n =244).
Results The proportion of patients who reached 0-2 on the mRS scale on day 90 was 93.64% and 86.50% in the groups receiving Cortexin intravenously and intramuscularly, respectively.
According to the MMSE scale, by the day of completion of the study, the overall dynamics of the average score in group 1 was 4.11, in the comparison group 3.88 ( p =0.249).
In plain English: The comprehensive therapy with Cortexin proved to be highly effective, safe, and well-tolerated in patients with neurological complications of T2DM, and it is recommended for use in general clinical practice.
· Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova (2026)
Of the participants, 70.6% were females and 29.4% were males, aged 45 to 70 years (mean age: 60.8±0.71 years).
Results The regression of cognitive symptoms in group 1 patients was superior to that in group 2 (6.0 times vs. 1.7 times), as confirmed by a 1.2-fold increase in the average MoCA score after 3 months of follow-up ( p <0.001).
In the Cortexin group, the mean HADS anxiety score decreased by 1.6 times, and the mean depression score decreased by 1.7 times, with minimal changes noted in the control group ( p <0.001).
In plain English: The limited number of eligible studies for Actovegin (n = 2 trials,563 participants) and Cortexin, (n = 1 trial,80 participants) precluded meta-analyses but data suggested potential efficacy and no safety concerns.
Alsulaimani RA, Quinn TJ. · Cereb Circ Cogn Behav (2021)
Independent systematic review and meta-analysis of animal-derived nootropics (Cerebrolysin, Actovegin, Cortexin) in cognitive disorders, using Cochrane risk-of-bias and GRADE
For cortexin only one eligible trial (80 participants) was found, too few to meta-analyse, so no pooled cortexin estimate exists. The authors say its data suggested potential efficacy and no safety concerns
Across the drug class, risk of bias was moderate to high and certainty of evidence was low to very low; only cerebrolysin had enough trials to show a (modest) cognition benefit
In plain English: Similar functional outcome was observed for saline control, Cognistar®, Cerebrolysat® and Cortexin®; in contrast, a significantly improved neurological outcome was observed with Cerebrolysin® treatment.
Zhang L, Chopp M, Wang C, Zhang Y, Lu M, Zhang T, Zhang ZG. · J Neurol Sci (2019)
Prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled embolic-stroke study in male Wistar rats comparing four brain-derived peptide preparations with saline, each given for 10 days from 4 hours after occlusion
Functional outcome with cortexin (1.7 mg/kg) was similar to saline
Only cerebrolysin significantly improved neurological outcome, against saline and against the other preparations (p < .002)
In plain English: Cortexin® (10 μg/ml) demonstrated high or moderate binding to AMPA-receptors (80.1%), kainate receptors (73.5%), mGluR1 (49.0%), GABAA1 (44.0%) and mGluR5 (39.7%).
Kurkin DV, Bakulin DA, Morkovin EI, Kalatanova AV, Makarenko IE, Dorotenko AR, Kovalev NS, Dubrovina MA, Verkholyak DV, Abrosimova EE, Smirnov AV, Shmidt MV, Tyurenkov IN. · PLoS One (2021)
Rat models of acute (middle cerebral artery occlusion) and chronic (carotid stenosis) brain ischemia, plus in-vitro receptor binding and a blood-brain-barrier test in mice. Cortexin 1 or 3 mg/kg/day, cerebrolysin or actovegin for 10 days
Radiolabeled cortexin crossed the blood-brain barrier in mice (6-8% of whole-blood concentration) and bound AMPA, kainate, mGluR1, GABA-A1 and mGluR5 receptors in vitro
Cortexin or cerebrolysin, and to a lesser extent actovegin, improved neurological recovery. Cortexin reduced necrosis size in acute ischemia, improved antioxidant function and prevented severe neurodegenerative changes in chronic ischemia
In plain English: It was noted more rapid and complete regression of cognitive disorders in patients of the 1st and 2nd groups, in comparison with patients of the 3rd group.
Belova LA, Mashin VV, Abramova VV, Proshin AN, Ovsjannikova AN. · Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova (2016)
Trial in 90 patients with hemispheric ischemic stroke: one cortexin course (20 mg/day IM for 10 days), two courses with a 10-day break, or basic therapy alone
The authors report faster and more complete regression of cognitive deficits in both cortexin groups than with basic therapy alone
The double course gave the best result on MMSE, word recall, frontal battery, clock drawing and MoCA