Page data last changed: . Chemistry registry snapshot: . Registry refreshes and identity assessments are separate from scientific content review.
A discontinued pharmaceutical form of full-length human ACTH — a USAN with no INN and no published trials.
Also known as: Seractide acetate · Corticotropin human · ACTH (1-39), human
Part of the Foundational & therapeutic peptides cluster
Overview
Seractide acetate is the acetate salt of full-length (39-residue) human corticotropin, C207H308N56O58S, about 4,541 Da. It received a US approved name and an FDA approval in 1978 as a repository injectable corticotropin (NDA 017861), replacing an extracted animal product used to control infantile myoclonic seizures, but it has been discontinued and no longer appears on the FDA's current drug list. No clinical trials or PubMed papers reference it by name.
Source & context
Biological / chemical source: Synthetic acetate salt of the 39-residue human ACTH sequence
Primary research or clinical context: Formerly approved (FDA 1978, NDA 017861) as a repository injectable corticotropin; discontinued and no longer on the FDA current drug list
What seractide is
Seractide acetate is the acetate salt of full-length human corticotropin — adrenocorticotropic hormone, all 39 residues. According to the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology, it has a US Adopted Name (USAN) but no International Nonproprietary Name, and it appears to be a discontinued injectable repository form of corticotropin approved by the FDA in 1978 under New Drug Application 017861; it does not appear on the FDA's current drug list. PubChem records the substance (CID 90488848) with the formula C207H308N56O58S and an average mass of about 4,541 Da, and lists 'ACTH (1-39), human' and 'Corticotropin human' among its synonyms.
Historical context
The IUPHAR clinical-use note explains that the original Acthar gel was an extracted animal product later replaced by human corticotropin, and that this older form of treatment was used to control infantile myoclonic seizures. The mechanism of action of corticotropin in infantile seizures is recorded as unknown. Seractide therefore represents a chapter in the pharmaceutical history of ACTH rather than a current product, and the evidence pack assembled for this profile contains no ClinicalTrials.gov entries and no PubMed papers that name it — which is itself the finding.
Structure
ACTH is a 39-residue peptide cleaved from pro-opiomelanocortin; its N-terminal region contains the melanocortin core shared with α-MSH, which is why the first 24 residues (the cosyntropin fragment) carry full adrenal-stimulating activity and the C-terminal tail modulates stability and species specificity. Seractide is the complete human sequence formulated as an acetate salt for injection. Because the pack provides no residue-level record beyond the PubChem entry, no one-letter sequence is displayed here; the ACTH profile on this site covers the hormone's biology.
How it relates to other peptides on this site
ACTH (the hormone) and cosyntropin (the synthetic 1–24 fragment used diagnostically and still marketed) are the living relatives. Melanotan-1 and melanotan-2, also on this site, are analogues of the α-MSH core embedded in ACTH's N-terminus. Seractide is best understood as the full-length hormone's brief career as a stand-alone pharmaceutical.
What this page cannot say
There are no published efficacy or safety data for seractide as a named product in the sources reviewed, and no active registrations. Anything sold today under a corticotropin name is a different product with its own labelling. This profile is a historical and structural record, not guidance of any kind.
Structure & chemistry
Molecular identity & reference confidence
Source-supported reference
Reference values are taken from the cited molecular record or curated profile. A database match is not independent laboratory verification; modifications, counter-ions, and formulations can change the measured mass.
- Molecular form
- Full-length human ACTH, 39 residues, as the acetate salt
- Species
- Not established by this molecular identity audit
- Termini (N / C)
- Not specified / Not specified
Average reference mass
Reference policy updated: 2026-10-05
- IUPHAR/BPS source snapshot · 2026-10-01
- PubChem molecular record · 2026-10-01
- Molecular formula
- C207H308N56O58S
- Average reference mass
- ≈ 4,541
- Backbone
- Full-length human ACTH, 39 residues, as the acetate salt
- Status
- Discontinued; formerly FDA-approved (1978, NDA 017861)
- PubChem CID: 90488848
- IUPHAR ligand: 6966
- ChEMBL: CHEMBL1201489
- CAS RN: 12279-41-3
Chemistry values: curated profile, PubChem, IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology · fetched 2026-10-01.
Seractide (human ACTH 1-39) — reconstitution calculator
Enter how much peptide is in the vial and how much diluent (e.g. bacteriostatic water) is added. The tool returns the resulting solution concentration — and, for any amount you type, the volume it corresponds to. This is educational arithmetic, not a dosing recommendation.
Reference form: Full-length human ACTH, 39 residues, as the acetate saltAverage reference mass: 4,541 Da
Enter an amount to see the volume it corresponds to.
Educational concentration mathematics only. This tool does not recommend a dose, amount, or protocol, and nothing here is medical advice. Many peptides are not authorized by Health Canada for human use — see our reconstitution and bacteriostatic-water guides for context.
Change log
Dated observations from the data pipeline (registry flags, trial footprints, identifiers) and editorial reviews of this profile.
- IdentifiersCross-linked to IUPHAR ligand 6966 and PubChem CID 90488848.
- EditorialProfile content reviewed and updated by the editorial team.
FAQ about Seractide (human ACTH 1-39)
What is Seractide (human ACTH 1-39)?+
Seractide acetate is the acetate salt of full-length (39-residue) human corticotropin, C207H308N56O58S, about 4,541 Da. It received a US approved name and an FDA approval in 1978 as a repository injectable corticotropin (NDA 017861), replacing an extracted animal product used to control infantile myoclonic seizures, but it has been discontinued and no longer appears on the FDA's current drug list. No clinical trials or PubMed papers reference it by name.
What Canadian product status is recorded for Seractide (human ACTH 1-39)?+
Canadian product status for Seractide (human ACTH 1-39) has not been verified in this profile. No verified record here does not mean no authorization exists. Status depends on the product, formulation and use; consult Health Canada's product records.
What is the typical length of Seractide (human ACTH 1-39)?+
Seractide (human ACTH 1-39) is commonly described as approximately 39 amino acids (Adrenocorticotropic hormone (full-length human)).
What is seractide?+
The acetate salt of full-length (39-residue) human ACTH, approved by the FDA in 1978 as a repository injectable corticotropin and since discontinued.
Is seractide still available?+
No. It does not appear on the FDA's current drug list and is recorded as discontinued.
How is seractide different from cosyntropin?+
Seractide is the full 39-residue human ACTH; cosyntropin is the synthetic 1–24 fragment that retains full adrenal-stimulating activity and remains in use.
Are there clinical trials of seractide?+
None are registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, and no PubMed papers reference it by name.