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Cebaracetam molecular structure

Cebaracetam

CGS-25248 | ZY-15119 | 4-chlorophenylpiracetam piperazine analogue

Cebaracetam is a synthetic, experimental racetam nootropic originally developed by Novartis in the 1990s, closely related to phenylpiracetam and RGPU-95. Clinical development was discontinued after phase 2, with no published results.

Developmental Names:

CGS-25248ZY-15119Cebaracetam

Formula

C₁₆H₁₈ClN₃O₃

Category

Racetam / Experimental

Half-Life

Unknown

Status

Not approved, research only

Chemical Profile

IUPAC Name:No official IUPAC (INN: Cebaracetam)
Molecular Formula:C16H18ClN3O3
Structure:4-chlorophenylpiracetam, piperazine group in place of terminal amide
Related Compounds:Phenylpiracetam, RGPU-95, Piracetam
SMILES:Not publicly disclosed
Molar Mass:335.8 g/mol
Solubility/Dosage:Unknown (Phase II investigational compound)
Development:Novartis, 1990s (abandoned)

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of cebaracetam is unknown; it is presumed to act similarly to other racetams, but as of 2024, no definitive molecular targets have been confirmed in peer-reviewed literature. It is chemically a derivative of 4-chlorophenylpiracetam with a piperazin-2-one group.

Evidence quality: (Presumed racetam action; no published receptor studies)
Source: WHO StemBook 2018. link

Preclinical & Clinical Data

Treatment for Cognitive Disorders (Abandoned, Phase 2)

Cebaracetam reached phase 2 studies for cognition disorders, but all clinical data remain unpublished. Development was discontinued by Novartis in 1995.

Evidence quality: (No published clinical efficacy data)
Cebaracetam. AdisInsight, 1995: Drug development status summary.
AdisInsight Drug record

Analytical Pharmacokinetics in Human Urine (HPLC Method)

Analytical high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods to detect cebaracetam in biological fluids were validated, but pharmacokinetics and full animal/human disposition are unpublished.

Evidence quality: (Analytical validation only, not therapeutic)
Fast systematic approach for the determination of drugs in biological fluids by fully automated high-performance liquid chromatography with on-line solid-phase extraction and automated cartridge exchange. Application to cebaracetam in human urine.
D Chollet, P Künstner.
J Chromatogr. 1992 Jun;577(2):335–340.
PMID: 1400764

Relation to Phenylpiracetam and RGPU-95: Structure-Activity Studies

Cebaracetam is a 4-chlorophenylpiracetam piperazine analogue; SAR studies show the terminal amide replacement by piperazin-2-one. No published reports of cognitive enhancement or psychoactivity in animals/humans.

Evidence quality: (Structure-activity/structural analog data only)
Cebaracetam. PubChem summary. (2024)
PubChem Compound ID 65919

Side Effects & Considerations

There are no published preclinical or clinical studies on cebaracetam’s side effect profile. Toxicology and acute safety profile are not established.

Evidence quality: (Unknown, presumed low acute toxicity as with racetams; no clinical data)

Regulatory & Legal Status

United States

  • Not FDA approved for any medical use
  • Unscheduled (not controlled or regulated), research chemical only
  • May fall under analog act in some regions
  • Not legally sold as a supplement/medicine

International

  • No official regulatory status (not approved in EU, CA, AU, UK, etc)
  • Not available as a pharmaceutical or supplement
  • Research use only

Legal status advisory: Cebaracetam is not approved in any country; research use only where permitted. Not intended for human consumption.

Historical Context & Development

Cebaracetam (CGS-25248, ZY-15119) was developed in the early 1990s by Novartis as an experimental nootropic intended for the treatment of cognitive disorders. It reached phase 2 trials before development was abandoned, and has never been marketed. Cebaracetam is structurally a piperazine-modified, 4-chlorophenyl-substituted analogue of phenylpiracetam and RGPU-95.

No clinical efficacy data, indication, or adverse reactions have ever been published in full. The compound remains a curiosity for racetam chemists and nootropic drug historians.

1990s
Initial Development / Preclinical
1995
Development Discontinued
2024
Research interest (arXiv/chem blogs only)
cebaracetam product image

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Benefits

  • Structurally unique racetam; piperazine-modified phenylpiracetam analogue
  • Valuable for structure–activity and SAR research
  • Phase 2 trialled as a cognitive enhancer (unpublished results)

Considerations

  • No approved medical use, no published safety data
  • Not approved or marketed; research only
  • Unknown human pharmacology or toxicity
  • Legal status unclear in some jurisdictions
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Scientific References

Compiled from peer-reviewed literature, open-access chemical databases, and discontinued compound documentation. Last updated: 4/12/2025.

  • "Cebaracetam". AdisInsight. 23 May 1995. AdisInsight Drug Record
  • D Chollet, P Künstner. Fast systematic approach for the determination of drugs in biological fluids by fully automated high-performance liquid chromatography with on-line solid-phase extraction and automated cartridge exchange. Application to cebaracetam in human urine. Journal of Chromatography. 1992;577(2):335–340. PMID: 1400764
  • "Cebaracetam". PubChem CID 65919, NIH Database. PubChem
  • WHO. International Nonproprietary Names (INN) StemBook, 2018. link