Omberacetam (Noopept)

Also known as: Noopept, GVS-111, N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester

Wellness

In plain English

Omberacetam (sold as Noopept) is a synthetic dipeptide developed in Russia and used there as a prescription nootropic for mild memory and cognitive problems, including after stroke or head injury. Russian studies suggest it modestly improves attention and memory and has anti-anxiety effects, but these trials are mostly small and not to Western regulatory standards. It is not FDA-approved and is sold as a supplement/research chemical in the U.S.

The science

Omberacetam (noopept, GVS-111) is a proline-containing dipeptide structurally related to the racetam nootropics but active at far lower doses. Proposed mechanisms include neuroprotection against oxidative and excitotoxic injury, modulation of cholinergic (α7 nicotinic) signaling, and increases in NGF and BDNF expression. Russian clinical work reported cognitive and affective improvement in mild cognitive impairment, including comparisons with piracetam (Neznamov & Teleshova, 2009) and an early characterization review (Ostrovskaya et al., 2002). The clinical evidence base is small, largely single-country, and methodologically limited; it is registered in Russia but is not FDA-approved.

References

• Neznamov GG, Teleshova ES, Neurosci Behav Physiol 2009 (Noopept vs piracetam in MCI)
• Ostrovskaya RU et al., Eksp Klin Farmakol 2002 (characterization of noopept)