For research use only. Not for human consumption. Not medical advice — consult a licensed clinician.

Nootropic / Cognitive

P21

Also known as: P021

P21 (also P021) is a small peptidergic compound — the tetrapeptide core Asp-Gly-Gly-Leu with an N-terminal acetyl and a C-terminal adamantylated glycine amide (Ac-DGGL(A)G-NH2) — derived from an active region (residues ~148–151) of human ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). It was designed and characterized in the Khalid Iqbal laboratory at the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (NYS IBR). It is an experimental, preclinical compound — NOT FDA-approved and NOT tested in humans in published trials. Distinct from the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor protein p21/CDKN1A/WAF1 (a completely different gene product; the two share only the name).

Where to buy · live market data

Who's worth your money for P21

Every current seller, ranked by independent evidence — Merit Score, latest COA purity, and live $/mg (size-normalized). Prices refresh daily. Rankings are never paid.

Top Merit pick

Highest Merit Score (88) of 3 scored sellers

$7.60/mg

$38.00 · 5mg

no COAs yet

Best value

Lowest $/mg among scored sellers

$11.90/mg

$119 · 10mg · 98.6% purity

Average price

$15.11/mg

Sellers

12

45-day trend

-7.3%

9 of 12 sellers have a current price· 2 stale hidden· 4 unverified hidden

Prices observed from public storefronts (last 24h), normalized to $/mg. "Evidence" is Merit's 0–100 Merit Score, derived only from observable verification evidence (methodology on /about); "Purity" is the latest independent COA. Some buy links are affiliate links — Merit may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and where a vendor offers one, the code shown gets you a discount at their checkout. Affiliate status never affects price data, ranking, or the Merit Score (full policy on /disclosure). Research use only.

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Compound reference

About P21

CAS

1246751-68-7

Molecular formula

C27H42N6O8

Sequence

DGGL

Typical dose range

500–750 mcg/day intranasal (research use); 250–1000 mcg/day range reported

Half-life

>6 hours (rodent; estimated, based on parent Peptide 6 and adamantane-modified stability)

Research depth

20 citations indexed for P21

All research on P21 →

Study · 2026

p21 (CDKN1A) Is the Major Driver of Sulforaphane-Mediated Reduction in SAMHD1 T592 Phosphorylation in Macrophages

Sulforaphane (SFN), a natural compound found in cruciferous vegetables, mobilizes the transcription factor NRF2 to protect macrophages from HIV-1. SFN/NRF2 exerts this protective effect by promoting the reduced phosphorylation of the antiviral protein SAMHD1.

review · 2026

Exercise and p21 signaling in central nervous system aging and senescence: A context- and dose-dependent relationship

Physical exercise is a potent modifier of CNS aging, but its relationship with the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (CDKN1A) is neither uniformly suppressive nor equivalent to cellular senescence. Direct evidence remains sparse and preclinical.

animal · 2026

Developmental Deficiency of Oligodendrocytes and Myelination in the Central Nervous System of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Mouse Model

Background Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a severe condition characterized by physical and neurodevelopmental abnormalities in the fetus resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) or prenatal and lactation alcohol exposure (PLAE).

Study · 2026

Beyond [N]Phenylenes: Synthesis and Investigation of Linear [4] and [5]Naphthylenes Incorporating Multiple Four-Membered Rings

Ladder-type polycyclic conjugated hydrocarbons (PCHs) incorporating four-membered rings represent a unique class of organic materials with local antiaromaticity and dearomatization induced by the four-membered rings.

animal · 2026

p21 Inhibition Rescues Radiation-Induced Osteogenic Dysfunction and Promotes Bone Regeneration in Osteoradionecrosis of the Jaw via the Rb-Smad2/3-Runx2 Axis

Background Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORNJ) is a severe radiotherapy complication with unclear molecular drivers. CDKN1A/p21 is upregulated by radiation-induced DNA damage, but its role in ORNJ remains unknown. Methods An ORNJ mouse model was established.

Study · 2026

Senescence Markers and Associated Transcriptomic Changes Are Expressed at Early Stages of Alzheimer's Neuropathology but Are Not Independently Related to Dementia

Cellular senescence may affect the post-mitotic cells of the brain.