Dipeptide nootropic / N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester (cognitive enhancement)

Noopept

Noopept (N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester) is a dipeptide nootropic compound developed in Russia and registered there as a pharmaceutical for mild cognitive impairment. It is structurally related to piracetam but is considerably more potent on a per-milligram basis in animal models. In the United States, Noopept is sold as a dietary supplement despite lacking FDA drug approval. Russian clinical trials have been published in Russian-language journals; Western replication is limited. The compound is being investigated for effects on cognition, neuroprotection, and antioxidant pathways.

Research watch — registered in Russia, sold as supplement in US Last reviewed 2026-07-01 Next review 2026-07-29

Evidence snapshot

Track scientific literature and regulatory status. Distinguish Russian drug registration from US supplement marketing. Do not publish dosing, sourcing, or treatment instructions. Note that Russian clinical trials are small and mostly Russian-language without independent Western replication.

Noopept is registered as a pharmaceutical in Russia for mild cognitive impairment; Russian clinical trials include a 2011 study in stroke patients (PMID 22500312) and a 2008 EEG-characterized study of MCI patients (PMID 19008801), both published in Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova.

A 2025 physicochemical analysis in the Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis confirmed the structural identity of Noopept as N-phenylacetyl-L-prolylglycine ethyl ester (PMID 40662561, DOI 10.1016/j.jpba.2024.116474).

A 2022 study in Neuroscience Letters found that Noopept's effects on CA1 pyramidal neurons involve α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on hippocampal interneurons in rat brain slices (PMID 36195298, DOI 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136898).

Noopept is sold as a dietary supplement in the United States without FDA drug approval. Russian clinical trials are small (dozens of patients), predominantly Russian-language, and have not been independently replicated in Western populations.

Tracked claims

Noopept improves cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Evidence level: Peer reviewed — Russian clinical trials (limited)

Sources: PubMed / NCBI, PubMed / NCBI

Two Russian clinical trials (PMID 22500312, 2011; PMID 19008801, 2008) studied Noopept in mild cognitive impairment from stroke and post-traumatic/vascular origins. These are small studies published in Russian-language journals without independent Western replication. Do not extrapolate to general cognitive enhancement in healthy individuals.

Noopept modulates cholinergic and neurotrophic pathways in the hippocampus.

Evidence level: Peer reviewed — preclinical

Sources: PubMed / NCBI, PubMed / NCBI

The 2022 Neuroscience Letters study (PMID 36195298) demonstrated α7 nAChR involvement on hippocampal interneurons in rats. The 2020 study (PMID 33119829) showed Noopept activates the transcription factor HIF-1. These are preclinical mechanisms only.

Noopept is a safe cognitive enhancer available as a supplement.

Evidence level: Community discussion

Sources: PubMed / NCBI, PubMed / NCBI

Noopept is registered as a drug in Russia but sold as an unregulated supplement in the US. The Russian clinical safety data is limited to small trials. No FDA-approved safety or efficacy data exists for the US supplement market. Track supplement marketing claims against the limited clinical evidence.