Cerebrolysin
Status
Approved elsewhere. No FDA-approved labeling exists. Cerebrolysin is not approved in the United States, though it is registered in a number of other countries.
What it is
A porcine brain-derived peptide preparation used in some countries after stroke.
What published research measured
A mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides and amino acids produced by enzymatic breakdown of purified pig brain protein — a biological extract rather than a defined molecule, which is the central fact about interpreting its evidence, since batch composition is not fully characterized. It has a large clinical literature and is a registered medicine in a number of countries in Europe, Asia and the CIS. Cochrane reviews have examined it in acute ischaemic stroke, vascular dementia and traumatic brain injury; the 2023 stroke review found that it probably made little or no difference to death from any cause, reported a probable increase in non-fatal serious adverse events, and noted that no included study reported death or dependence; reviewers have also raised concerns about trial quality. It must be given by injection or infusion. Anaphylactoid reactions are the documented serious adverse event.
Source
Cochrane reviews of cerebrolysin in acute ischaemic stroke and vascular dementia
Sources
No linked primary source is on file for this entry yet.
Educational use only, never medical advice. No doses.