NeuroprotectiveTarget: BrainNervous

Cortexin

Brain Peptide Complex · Neuropeptide Preparation · Кортексин

Cortexin is a CIS pharmaceutical cortical polypeptide extract used in neurology wards. It is adjacent to the 41, not padded into it. Cerluten is the Cytomax complex; Cortagen is AEDP.

Not FDA-approved - research chemical

Quick answer

What it is: Cortexin is a CIS pharmaceutical cortical polypeptide extract used in neurology wards.

Class and target: Pharmaceutical extract (Cytamin-era) · Cerebral cortex

Typical research dose: 5-10 mg/day IM

Reconstitution calculator ↓What it is & the evidence on The Bioregulator Atlas →

Research summary, not medical advice.

Reviewed by Kymata Health Editorial Team
Last updated: August 2026Evidence: Low
Typical research dose
5-10 mg/day IM
Frequency
1× daily for 10-20 days
Half-life
Peptide mixture
Common vials
5 mg / 10 mg
CAS
N/A (biological extract)
Molecular weight
Mixture

Use-case scores

0–10 against the evidence we have, not a gym ranking. Hidden domains do not apply here.

  • Cognition3/10

    Extract, not a sequence. Russian clinical literature. Not Cerebrolysin (that is a different extract leaf). Not a US stroke drug.

Compound card

Class
Porcine brain polypeptide extract (Russian clinic product class)
Formula
Bovine cortex polypeptide mixture (<10 kDa)
Status
Not FDA-approved · research use
Dose it
10 mg + 2 mL BAC water → 5 mg/mL · 5000 mcg ≈ 100 units (U-100)
Open in calculator

How it works

Cortexin is a polypeptide preparation derived from the cerebral cortex of cattle (analogous to Cerebrolysin but bovine-cortex source). It contains a complex mixture of low-molecular-weight neuropeptides and amino acids that provide neurotrophic factor signaling (BDNF, NGF, CNTF analogs) and neuroprotection.

Cortexin promotes neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and recovery from ischemic neurological injury. It is approved in Russia and several Eastern European countries for stroke recovery, TBI, cognitive decline, and childhood neuro-developmental disorders. Its primary therapeutic difference from Cerebrolysin is the bovine cortex source (vs. porcine brain for Cerebrolysin) and its availability in Russia.

Khavinson map

Adjacent (not padded into the 41)
Class
Pharmaceutical extract (Cytamin-era)
Organ
Cerebral cortex
Target
Brain
System
Nervous
Sequence
Mixture / not a single CAS
Pair
Cerluten (brain Cytomax); Cortagen (AEDP)
Кортексин

Used in bioregulator stacks

Manufacturer-style organ combinations - not FDA protocols. Every name is a live leaf.

The Khavinson school

Cortexin is filed here as pharmaceutical extract (cytamin-era), targeting the cerebral cortex. Khavinson's St. Petersburg group moved from organ extracts (Cytamins) to capsule complexes (Cytomaxes) to synthetic short peptides (Cytogens); most of the evidence comes from that one group, with little independent Western replication.

Read the full background, the proposed epigenetic mechanism, the literature limits, and how we count the canonical 41 on the Khavinson bioregulators index.

History of this molecule

Hospital ampoules, pediatric and stroke-adjacent CIS use, a real product name doctors in that system know. That is a different object than a US research-chem AEDP vial. We cover it so the map has the extract layer for brain, same as Thymalin for thymus and Retinalamin for retina.

Caveats

Extract. Not FDA. Acute stroke is still emergency care.

Full 41-map: Khavinson bioregulators index · Bioregulator stacks

Research Use Cases

  • ✓Stroke rehabilitation (acute and chronic phase)
  • ✓Traumatic brain injury recovery
  • ✓Age-related cognitive impairment
  • ✓Pediatric neurodevelopmental support
  • ✓Epilepsy adjunct therapy

Dosing

PhaseDoseFrequencyNotes
Standard Protocol10 mgDaily IM for 10 days, repeat 1-2x per yearKhavinson-adjacent cytamine protocol. Intramuscular injection only. Widely used in Russia for neurological indications.

Administration

Route / form
Pharmaceutical cortical extract - historically intramuscular. Not a Cerluten capsule.
Timing
Course-based injectable / extract timing per the pharmaceutical presentation - food does not change an IM or parabulbar shot.
Empty stomach?
No - These are clinic-era injectables or suppositories, not capsules. Food timing does not apply.

Cortexin: CIS IM extract vs Not Cerluten / not AEDP

CIS IM extract
Bioavailability
CIS pharmaceutical cortical polypeptide extract. Historical route is intramuscular. Not Cortagen SubQ, not Cerluten capsules, not Cerebrolysin (different extract program).
Dose note
Ampoule / clinic kit: mix per the pharmaceutical presentation. Do not invent a 5 mg/mL BAC SubQ lifestyle chart for an extract lot. CIS folklore is often 5–10 mg IM daily for about 10 days. Match the ampoule label. Not a DIY intrathecal. Not AEDP milligrams.
Advantages
  • Hospital ampoule doctors in that system actually know. Adjacent to the 41, not padded into it.
  • Extract layer for brain, same job Thymalin does for thymus.
  • Food does not change an IM shot.
Considerations
  • Not FDA. Acute stroke is still emergency care.
  • Do not paste Cortagen papers onto this extract, or Cerebrolysin trials onto this brand.
  • US research cakes labeled Cortexin are identity-unknown until proven.
Not Cerluten / not AEDP
Bioavailability
Cortexin is not a swallowed Cytomax. The oral brain cousin is Cerluten. Cortagen (AEDP) capsules are the cytogen. Neither is this ampoule.
Dose note
If the bottle is oral, you bought Cerluten or Cortagen, not Cortexin. No Cortexin capsule chart on this leaf.
Advantages
  • Cerluten exists for people who bought brain Cytomax capsules.
  • Keeps extract vs AEDP vs complex from collapsing.
  • Not a sublingual tablet. Nobody manufactures this SKU that way.
Considerations
  • Name collision with Cortagen is the buyer trap.
  • Not a nootropic gummy and not Semax.
  • Pediatric CIS use does not authorize a US capsule protocol.
Recommendation: Cortexin is a CIS IM cortical extract, not in the canonical 41. It is not Cortagen (AEDP cytogen, capsule-or-vial), not Cerluten (brain Cytomax), not Semax, and not a 5 mg BAC SubQ lifestyle peptide. Ampoule label or do not dose.

Timeline

Week 1-2
Improved cognitive clarity, memory, and concentration.
Month 1-3
Neuroprotective effects. Improved recovery from neurological events.

Who it is for

Cognitive Enhancement / Neuroprotection

Low

Approved in Russia for cognitive decline and neurology. Limited RCT data vs. Cerebrolysin.

Stroke / TBI Recovery

Low

Approved in Russia for neurological rehabilitation. Fewer clinical trials than Cerebrolysin.

Reconstitution

VialWaterConcentrationExample dose
10 mg lyophilized2 mL BAC5 mg/mLClinic extract kits differ from research cakes. Match the ampoule label.

Change vial size or water volume? Open the reconstitution calculator.

Safety & Considerations

Approved in Russia. Intramuscular only. Generally well-tolerated. Manufacture must meet veterinary-derived peptide standards. Limited data outside Russia.

Regulatory & Legal Status

FDA Status (US)
Research Only
WADA Status (2026)
Not Listed

Not currently on the WADA 2026 Prohibited List. Policies may change - verify before competition.

Classification

Research Chemical

US Compounding: Not eligible / not available

⚠️ This information is for educational purposes only and may not reflect the most current regulatory updates. Always verify with official FDA, WADA, and jurisdiction-specific sources before use.

Limits of current evidence

  • Do not paste Cerebrolysin trials onto Cortexin.
  • This site will not treat stroke or TBI from this page.

Verdict

Cortexin is a branded porcine cortical extract. Not a synthetic nootropic peptide. Not FDA-approved. Sequence claims on research-chem sites are usually wrong.

Interactions & Contraindications

Animal-derived preparation - potential allergenic risk. IM injection route only. No significant drug interactions documented in Russian clinical data. Can be combined with standard neurological medications.

Synergies & Common Stacks

+ P21 →

Cortexin provides broad neuroprotection and membrane stabilization while P21 specifically drives hippocampal neurogenesis - complementary neuroprotective approaches for cognitive decline.

+ Semax →

Cortexin (complex neuropeptide preparation, IM injection) + Semax (targeted ACTH fragment, intranasal) provide multi-pathway CNS support through different mechanisms and routes.

Frequently Asked Questions

In the 41?▼
No. Core eight includes Cortagen and the Cytomax Cerluten. Cortexin is the pharma extract we still document.
Vs Cortagen?▼
Extract vs AEDP tetrapeptide.
Vs Semax?▼
Different peptide program.
US hospital drug?▼
No.
IM or capsule?▼
This is an IM extract ampoule. Cerluten is the brain Cytomax capsule. Cortagen is AEDP (capsule-or-vial). Not a sublingual tablet and not a 5 mg BAC SubQ lifestyle peptide.
What is the difference between Cortexin and Cerebrolysin?▼
Both are neuropeptide preparations from brain tissue, but Cortexin uses bovine cerebral cortex while Cerebrolysin uses porcine brain. Cerebrolysin has significantly more clinical trial data. Cortexin is widely used in Russia where Cerebrolysin is less available.
Where to get itOral bioregulator

Affiliate links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.

Get Cerluten from Vita-Stream, which sells the GARMONIA Cytomax and Cytogen oral capsules. No reconstitution math on a capsule bottle.

Cortexin isn't sold under that name at Vita-Stream. Closest match: Cerluten (A-5), the natural brain Cytomax (not the same compound).

Browse Cerluten

Use code KymataLabs at checkout

See all sources and our full review

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