Cerebrolysin vs Semax

Name: Cerebrolysin vs Semax
Published: 2026-10-24

Updated Oct 24, 20268 sources

Key differences

1Cerebrolysin is a pig-brain peptide and amino acid mix given by IV or IM in mL; Semax is a short synthetic peptide used as nasal drops.
2They are different molecules with different routes and are not interchangeable.
3Cerebrolysin is an injected mixture of peptides from pig brain, not one defined peptide. Semax is a single synthetic seven amino acid peptide given in the nose.
4No trials compare the two.

Facts from each record, in the same words as their own pages.

Cerebrolysin and Semax side by side
	Cerebrolysin	Semax
Category	Cognitive	Cognitive
Evidence	Some human trials	Limited human data
FDA status	Not FDA approvedRegulatory	Not FDA approvedRegulatory
WADA	Not prohibited	Not confirmed
Half-life	Cannot be measured directly, because the peptides resemble the body's own. Wikipedia notes some of its peptides are short-lived in blood, citing BDNF at about 10 minutes.Reference work	No human data; FDA found no human pharmacokinetic studies. In rats, brain levels peak 2 minutes after a nasal dose and the peptide breaks down fast.Clinical study
Routes	Intravenous (IV), Intramuscular injection, Subcutaneous injection	Nasal, Subcutaneous injection
Forms	Ready-to-use vial, Vial (powder)	Nasal spray, Vial (powder)
Reported doses	2,152 to 12,912 mg (intravenous (iv)) 1,076 to 2,152 mg (intramuscular injection) 20 to 32 mg (subcutaneous injection)	150 to 6,000 mcg (nasal) 12 to 18 mg (nasal) 15 to 50 mcg/kg (nasal)
Most cited frequency	20 to 50 mL once a day, started as soon as possible	Once daily
Vial sizes	60 mgCompetitor guide	5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mgCompetitor guide
Mixed vial keeps	Research powder once mixed: fridge at 2 to 8 C, away from light.Competitor guide	Fridge at 2 to 8 C.Competitor guide
Protocols on file	11	30

Doses shown are what sources report, labelled by origin. Not medical advice.

8 sources, each checked by date. Record updated Oct 24, 2026. Numbers are restated in our own words and labelled by where they came from.