PeptideTreatments
Reviewed by Peptide Treatments Medical Advisory Board

Cortistatin: Research & Evidence

Early-Stage Research

Published research, clinical trial data, and evidence grading for Cortistatin across studied indications.

Back to Cortistatin overview

Research Summary

Cortistatin has generated scientific interest due to its unique dual-receptor binding profile — it is the only known peptide that binds both somatostatin receptors (SSTR1-5) and ghrelin receptors (GHSR). However, all human data is limited to basic science: measuring endogenous cortistatin levels in post-mortem brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid. No human has ever been administered synthetic cortistatin in a clinical trial. There are zero therapeutic RCTs, zero human safety studies, and no pharmaceutical development program. All functional data comes from animal models (quail, rat, mouse, sheep).

Evidence by Indication (2 indications)

Indication Tier Trials Summary
Sleep regulation Tier D 0 Animal data only — no human studies
Neuroendocrine modulation Tier D 0 Basic science only — no therapeutic trials

Graded using our evidence tier methodology.

Research Gap Score /10

Higher score = larger gap between therapeutic potential and available clinical evidence.

Citations (4 sources)

  1. 1. Identification of cortistatin in human brain Study

    Dalm VA, et al. (2003), Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

  2. 2. Cortistatin expression in human cerebral cortex Study

    Fukusumi S, et al. (2003), Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

  3. 3. Original discovery of cortistatin Study

    Dietrich MO, et al. (2000), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

  4. 4. Cortistatin and sleep regulation in mice Study

    Spier AD, de Lecea L (2006), Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology