Cerebrolysin: Porcine Brain Peptide Mixture
Last updated: October 2026
Cerebrolysin is a mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides and amino acids derived from porcine brain. It is widely used for acute ischaemic stroke in Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and other Asian and post-Soviet countries, but it is not approved in the United States. Here is what two Cochrane reviews found, including a rise in non-fatal serious adverse events in stroke trials.
(Cochrane 2023)
RCTs (Cochrane 2019)
Serious Adverse Events
What Is Cerebrolysin?
Cerebrolysin (FPF 1070) is a porcine brain-derived peptide mixture produced by EVER Neuro Pharma (Austria), studied mainly in acute ischaemic stroke and vascular dementia.
A mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides and amino acids derived from porcine brain tissue. It is not a single defined peptide.
Produced by EVER Neuro Pharma (Austria). It is a prescription pharmaceutical where it is used, not a supplement.
Derived from porcine (pig) brain tissue. The animal-brain source raises theoretical prion questions and matters for anyone with religious or cultural restrictions on pork products.
Given by injection under medical supervision (in vascular dementia, as a series of daily IV infusions). It is not an oral product, which sets it apart from oral nootropics.
How Cerebrolysin Works
How Cerebrolysin works in people is not established. The Cochrane reviews describe it only in general terms.
Key point: A proposed mechanism is not evidence of a clinical benefit. Judge Cerebrolysin by the trial results in the next section, not by how it is said to work.
Described by Cochrane reviewers as having potential neuroprotective properties. In acute stroke trials that potential did not show up as a benefit on death.
Said to have neurotrophic activity. In vascular dementia, the evidence for a cognitive benefit is weak and any effect may be too small to matter clinically.
What the Research Shows
What two Cochrane systematic reviews found.
Evidence context: Cerebrolysin is widely used in Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and other Asian and post-Soviet countries. In the stroke review, the manufacturer supported three of the trials, and most risk-of-bias judgements were unclear. In the dementia review, every trial that reported its funding was industry-supported. It is not FDA approved.
Approved vs. Not Approved
Cerebrolysin is a prescription drug in the countries that use it, and it is not approved in the United States.
Widely used for acute ischaemic stroke in Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and other Asian and post-Soviet countries (Cochrane 2023). The manufacturer's prescribing summary, based on its Austrian label, lists indications including stroke, vascular dementia, Alzheimer-type dementia, and craniocerebral trauma. Labels vary by country.
Not approved by the FDA in the United States. Not available in US pharmacies.
A listed indication is not the same as strong evidence. For acute stroke, the 2023 Cochrane review found probably no benefit on death and more non-fatal serious adverse events. For vascular dementia, the evidence is very low quality.
Where it is used, Cerebrolysin is prescription-only and given by medical professionals. It's not an over-the-counter supplement — it's a pharmaceutical.
Clinical Protocols
Prescription-only and given by clinicians. This page does not offer a self-administration protocol.
By injection under medical supervision (courses of IV infusions, at varying doses and durations, in the vascular dementia trials). Dose and course length vary by country and indication and are set by the prescribing physician.
Treatment started within 48 hours of stroke onset, compared with placebo or no treatment. The rise in non-fatal serious adverse events was more prominent with 30 mL/day for 10 days (RR 2.87, Cochrane 2023).
Side Effects & Contraindications
What the Cochrane reviews and the manufacturer's label say about harms.
Who Should Consider Cerebrolysin
Who this page is relevant to. Whether Cerebrolysin is appropriate for anyone is a decision for their physician.
✓ This May Apply If You...
- Are researching treatments after acute ischaemic stroke and want to know what the trials found
- Have vascular dementia and want to understand how weak the evidence is
- Live in a country where Cerebrolysin is prescribed
- Have a physician willing to prescribe and administer injections or IV infusions
✗ This May Not Apply If You...
- Live in the US (not FDA approved; not available in US pharmacies)
- Want an oral supplement — Cerebrolysin requires injection
- Are looking for a simple daily supplement (this is a pharmaceutical)
- Have epilepsy or severe kidney impairment (listed contraindications)
- Have porcine allergies or religious restrictions
- Want a cognitive boost (the reviews cited here cover stroke and dementia patients, not healthy people)
The Porcine Debate
Widely used in some countries, unapproved in the US, and backed by weak trial evidence. Here's what you need to know.
The porcine brain source raises theoretical prion disease (like Creutzfeldt-Jakob) concerns. The Cochrane reviews cited on this page do not address prion risk, so we make no claim either way.
The FDA has not approved Cerebrolysin, and it is not available in US pharmacies. Separately, the 2023 Cochrane stroke review found more non-fatal serious adverse events with it.
The stroke review rated most risk-of-bias domains unclear, and the manufacturer supported three trials. The dementia review judged its trials at high risk of bias and the evidence very low quality.
Injection means it's not a simple supplement. Requires prescription, medical supervision, and clinical visits. This significantly limits who can realistically use it.
Primary Research Sources
Key Takeaways
- Widely used for acute stroke in Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and other Asian and post-Soviet countries
- Acute stroke: probably no benefit on all-cause death (Cochrane 2023, moderate certainty)
- Acute stroke: more non-fatal serious adverse events with Cerebrolysin (RR 2.39, moderate certainty)
- Possible small cognitive benefit in mild-moderate vascular dementia (Cochrane 2019, very low-quality evidence)
- Label contraindications include epilepsy and severe renal impairment
- Not FDA approved — unavailable in US pharmacies
- How it works in people; proposed neurotrophic effects are not established
- Whether it helps Alzheimer's disease or brain injury is not covered by the reviews cited here
- Long-term effects unclear; dementia-trial follow-up ranged from 15 days to three years
- Prion risk is theoretical and not addressed by the reviews cited here
- Requires injection, prescription, and medical supervision
🔬 Verified Research Source
Note: Swiss Chems does not currently carry Cerebrolysin as it requires injection and prescription. The links below are to other research compounds, not substitutes for it.
Affiliate links — support HighPeptides at no extra cost.
🛒 Recommended Products
General supplements some readers ask about. These are not part of Cerebrolysin therapy, which must be prescribed.
Affiliate links — support HighPeptides at no extra cost.
Related Compounds & Resources
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Cerebrolysin is NOT FDA approved in the United States and is not available in US pharmacies. It requires a prescription and must be administered by medical professionals by injection. This page is for educational and research purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Do not use this information to make decisions about your health without consulting a qualified healthcare provider. Not Available in USPrescription Required
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