Cognitive ⏱ Half-life: ~2-4 minutes (plasma) Preclinical

Cortistatin

Cortistatin (CST-14 / CST-17 / CST-29)

Updated March 30, 2026

Evidence at a Glance

Regulatory statusPreclinical
Endogenous somatostatin-family neuropeptide; no approved drug and no therapeutic trials, only small human infusion physiology studies.
Human evidenceLimited
Animal evidenceModerate

Cortistatin is a naturally occurring neuropeptide characterized mainly in cell and animal models, with only small human physiological infusion studies and no therapeutic clinical trials.

What the research does not support

  • It is not an approved medicine and has not been shown in controlled human trials to treat sleep disorders, inflammation, or any disease.
  • It does not act uniquely on the brain; it binds all five somatostatin receptor subtypes non-selectively, much like somatostatin itself.
  • Marketed anti-aging, fat-loss, or immune-cure claims are not supported by human evidence.
Half-Life
~2-4 minutes (plasma)
Purity
≥95%
Mol. Weight
1,634.9 Da (CST-14)
Form
Lyophilized powder

What is Cortistatin?

Cortistatin is a neuropeptide first identified in 1996 in the cerebral cortex, sharing 11 of 14 amino acids with somatostatin-14 yet exhibiting a distinct pharmacological profile. While somatostatin is primarily an endocrine inhibitor, cortistatin has emerged as a potent endogenous anti-inflammatory mediator with therapeutic potential in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Dosage Information (Research Use)

Research doses: 0.5-2 nmol/mouse in animal studies. No standardized human dosing. Very short half-life necessitates continuous infusion or analog development. Research compound only.

Reconstitution & Handling

Reconstitute in sterile PBS. Extremely short half-life — prepare fresh.

Half-Life & Pharmacokinetics

~2-4 minutes (plasma)

Reported Observations in Literature

Limited human data. Animal studies show good tolerability. Potential for transient GH suppression through SSTR binding. Sleep-promoting effects noted (hence the name “cortistatin” — cortex + statin).

Key Research References

  • Gonzalez-Rey E et al. “Cortistatin, a new antiinflammatory peptide.” Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008;1144:135-45

How Cortistatin Works

Cortistatin binds somatostatin receptors (SSTR1-5) but also uniquely activates the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) and the MrgX2 receptor — a receptor not targeted by somatostatin. This unique receptor profile gives cortistatin potent anti-inflammatory properties independent of its endocrine effects. It suppresses Th1/Th17 responses while promoting Treg activity, and directly inhibits macrophage activation.

Research Applications

🔬 Rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases
🔬 Inflammatory bowel disease
🔬 Multiple sclerosis and neuroinflammation

Research Findings

Animal studies show cortistatin dramatically reduces disease severity in collagen-induced arthritis, TNBS-induced colitis, and EAE (MS model). Unlike somatostatin analogs, it does not cause significant endocrine disruption at therapeutic doses. Currently in preclinical development for autoimmune conditions.

Dosage & Administration

Research doses: 0.5-2 nmol/mouse in animal studies. No standardized human dosing. Very short half-life necessitates continuous infusion or analog development. Research compound only.

Safety & Side Effects

Limited human data. Animal studies show good tolerability. Potential for transient GH suppression through SSTR binding. Sleep-promoting effects noted (hence the name "cortistatin" — cortex + statin).

Important: All safety information is derived from published research, primarily animal studies. No controlled human clinical trial data exists unless explicitly noted. This compound is sold for research purposes only.

Quick Facts

Molecular Weight 1,634.9 Da (CST-14)
Half-Life ~2-4 minutes (plasma)
Purity ≥95%
Form Lyophilized powder
Storage Lyophilized: -20°C. Reconstituted: use immediately.

Key Research References

  • Gonzalez-Rey E et al. "Cortistatin, a new antiinflammatory peptide." Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008;1144:135-45

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