RQS Scoring Log

Cerebrolysin

Nootropics & Neuroprotection· Human RCT· Scored July 2026· View compound profile →

62 /100

Moderate Evidence

7 dimensions · 100 points total · Methodology by PeptideClear

Geographic Concentration Note

A significant portion of cerebrolysin's RCT evidence originates in Eastern Europe (Austria, Romania, Russia) and China. This reflects the compound's regulatory approval history in these regions rather than a lack of scientific rigor. Where journal impact factors are lower, this note applies — the evidence base is real, but Western independent replication is limited. This score is not deflated for geographic concentration; it is scored on the evidence as published.

Dimension Breakdown

Dimension	Scoring Notes	Score
Study Design	Multiple published RCTs including the CASTA trial (stroke) and several Alzheimer's trials. These are genuine randomized controlled trials with placebo arms — not just observational data. However, trials are predominantly small-to-medium Phase II scale; no large Phase III FDA-submission-quality program exists. Single RCT score (20) is the appropriate ceiling given the individual trial quality.	20 / 25
Sample Size	The CASTA trial enrolled 208 participants. Other stroke and Alzheimer's trials typically enrolled 50–200 participants each. Cumulative sample across published RCTs is in the hundreds. Score reflects 100–499 aggregate range.	12 / 20
Replication	Trials have been conducted by multiple groups across Austria, Eastern Europe, and China — representing geographic diversity of investigators. However, Western academic replication is limited, and a meaningful proportion of studies trace to investigators affiliated with EVER Neuro Pharma (the manufacturer). Two independent groups score (10) reflects partial but not robust independent replication.	10 / 20
Journal Impact Factor	Key publications in Stroke (IF ~8–9) and CNS Drugs (IF ~5–6). The CASTA trial in Stroke represents the strongest journal placement in the evidence base. Other publications in lower-tier Eastern European and Chinese journals bring the weighted average down. IF 3–4 range score applies to the overall evidence base.	8 / 15
Funding Independence	EVER Neuro Pharma (manufacturer) has funded a portion of trials. Academic and government funding is present — the compound has approval in 30+ countries, which required independent regulatory review. Mixed funding score (4) reflects meaningful industry involvement without complete independence.	4 / 10
Population Diversity	Trials span Eastern European, Chinese, and some Western populations. Stroke trials include elderly populations of both sexes. Diversity is moderate given the geographic concentration — not narrow, but not the globally diverse enrollment seen in major Western pharmaceutical trials.	3 / 5
Researcher h-Index	Wolf-Dieter Heiss (Max Planck Institute), lead investigator of the CASTA trial, has an h-Index above 60 with a prominent publication record in stroke neuroscience. Top score warranted.	5 / 5

Sources: Heiss WD et al. 2012, Stroke (PMID 23160885) — CASTA trial. Muresanu DF et al. 2016, CNS Drugs — meta-analysis of stroke trials. Gauthier S et al. 2015, J Alzheimer's Dis — Alzheimer's RCT. Cochrane Review: Ziganshina LE et al., Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke.

Note: The Cochrane Review of cerebrolysin in stroke found evidence of uncertain quality — a fair characterization of a compound with real RCT data but trials of varying methodological strength. The 62/100 Moderate score reflects that a genuine, replicated human evidence base exists, while acknowledging the geographic concentration, mixed funding independence, and absence of large Western regulatory-track trials. This is not a weak compound without evidence — it is a compound with real evidence that has not gone through FDA-track validation.

Scored by the PeptideClear editorial team using publicly available literature. Sources: PubMed (study design, sample size, replication) · ScimagoJR (journal impact factor) · Google Scholar (researcher h-Index) · Primary papers (funding disclosure). Scores are reviewed as new research is published.