Cortagen: what it is, what the studies show and where it stands
Cortagen is a synthetic tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro (AEDP), designed from the amino acid analysis of Cortexin, a peptide preparation made from brain cortex.
At a glance
US Not approved
Canada Not authorized
Group Brain and focus
Sources 12
Checked 10 Oct 2026What is Cortagen?
Cortagen is a synthetic tetrapeptide, Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro (AEDP), designed from the amino acid analysis of Cortexin, a peptide preparation made from brain cortex. [1]
Other names: Cortagene, AEDP, Ala-Glu-Asp-Pro.
How it has been given to people: no human study with a stated route or dose was found; the rat nerve study injected it into muscle.
Looking for doses? Cortagen dosage chart and vial math
Is Cortagen approved in the US and Canada?
United States: Not FDA approved. No Cortagen product is in Drugs@FDA, and it is not on the FDA page of bulk substances reviewed for compounding. [8]
Canada: No Cortagen product is in the Health Canada Drug Product Database. Health Canada warns against all unauthorized injectable peptide drugs. [10]
Both were checked on 10 Oct 2026 against the regulators' own product databases.
Which approved products contain Cortagen?
No approved medicine containing Cortagen was found in the US or Canada. Anything sold under this name is not a regulated product, so there is no label to check a dose against.
What human studies of Cortagen exist?
The 6 findings listed here: 6 from animal or lab work.
In rats whose sciatic nerve was cut and stitched, 10 mcg per kg injected into muscle for 10 days raised the growth rate of the regrowing nerve fibres by 27% and their conduction velocity by 40%. This is a rat result. [2]
In rats with long-term reduced blood flow to the brain, Cortexin and Cortagen sped up the recovery of disturbed behaviour. The abstract gives no dose. [3]
Injected into rats, Epithalon and Cortagen lowered markers of fat and protein oxidation in blood serum and brain cortex. The abstract gives no dose. [4]
In mice injected for 5 days, the activity of 110 known genes in heart tissue changed. The abstract does not say what this means for health. [1]
In blood cells taken from people aged 75 to 88 and treated in the laboratory, Cortagen and four other short peptides switched ribosome genes back on and loosened tightly packed chromatin. The cells were treated, not the people. [5]
Added to mouse spleen cells in a dish, Cortagen raised interleukin-2 gene activity, less strongly than Vilon or Epithalon. [6]
What are the side effects of Cortagen?
Reported in human studies or on a label:
- No human side-effect report for Cortagen was found. Health Canada lists these risks for unauthorized injectable peptide drugs in general: hormonal imbalance, mood swings, blood sugar imbalance, liver or kidney damage, blood clots and growth of cancerous tumours. [10]
How does Cortagen compare with others in its group?
These are the peptides filed under brain and focus. The last column says whether a randomized human trial is on record for each.
| Peptide | US | Canada | Half-life | Randomized human trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semax | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
| Selank | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | Yes |
| DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide) | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | Yes |
| Pinealon | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
| Cortagen | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
What could not be found
These were searched for and did not turn up. They are listed so a missing number is not mistaken for a hidden one.
- No published human study of Cortagen with a stated dose, route or number of patients. PubMed lists 15 records for cortagen; every one with an abstract describes rats, mice, birds or cells in culture.
- The abstract of a mouse study [1] says that in humans Cortagen helped injured peripheral nerves recover. It names no study, dose or patient count, and no human paper was found on PubMed to support it.
- No human half-life or other pharmacokinetic figure.
- No trial registered on ClinicalTrials.gov: a search for cortagen as the intervention returned no studies [12].
- No approved label in the US or Canadian sources searched, so no official dose, contraindications, interaction list or storage instructions.
- No human side-effect or safety data.
Cortagen questions
Is Cortagen approved in the US?
Not FDA approved. No Cortagen product is in Drugs@FDA, and it is not on the FDA page of bulk substances reviewed for compounding.
Is Cortagen authorized in Canada?
No Cortagen product is in the Health Canada Drug Product Database. Health Canada warns against all unauthorized injectable peptide drugs.
Has Cortagen been tested in a randomized human trial?
No randomized human trial was found. What exists is listed under the studies heading on this page.
Sources
Each one was opened on 10 Oct 2026 and matched to the line it supports.
- Anisimov SV et al. Elucidation of the effect of brain cortex tetrapeptide Cortagen on gene expression in mouse heart by microarray. Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2004. PubMed 15159690.
- Turchaninova LN et al. Effect of tetrapeptide cortagen on regeneration of sciatic nerve. Bull Exp Biol Med 2000. PubMed 11276314.
- Zarubina IV et al. [Cortexin and cortagen as correcting agents in functional and metabolic disorders in the brain in chronic ischemia]. Eksp Klin Farmakol 2011. PubMed 21476278.
- Kozina LS Effects of bioactive tetrapeptides on free-radical processes. Bull Exp Biol Med 2007. PubMed 18239817.
- Khavinson VKh et al. Effects of short peptides on lymphocyte chromatin in senile subjects. Bull Exp Biol Med 2004. PubMed 15085253.
- Kazakova TB et al. In vitro effect of short peptides on expression of interleukin-2 gene in splenocytes. Bull Exp Biol Med 2002. PubMed 12447482.
- Lezhava T et al. EPIGENETIC MODIFICATION UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF PEPTIDE BIOREGULATORS ON THE "OLD" CHROMATIN. Georgian Med News 2023. PubMed 37042594.
- US Food and Drug Administration openFDA search of Drugs@FDA: cortagen 2026. api.fda.gov.
- US Food and Drug Administration Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks 2026. fda.gov.
- Health Canada Think twice before injecting peptides bought online: unauthorized products can seriously harm you 2026. recalls-rappels.canada.ca.
- Health Canada Health Canada Drug Product Database, active ingredient search: cortagen 2026. health-products.canada.ca.
- US National Library of Medicine ClinicalTrials.gov search, intervention: cortagen 2026. clinicaltrials.gov.
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Cortagen dosage20 mg vialBrain and focusStatus in Canada
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