Noopept was developed in 1996 by a Russian pharmaceutical company with the intention to treat cognitive decline related to aging. In the mid-1980s, they began their quest to find a powerful and stable nootropic that will be able to successfully reach the brain. Out of the many molecules they created, modified, and tested, only one made it to the last round.
That said, the reason why Noopept is commonly thought to be a part of the racetam-class of nootropics is that it was synthesized from the core molecule of piracetam. However, unlike piracetam, this molecule had the ability to be double-bonded with neuropeptides, which gave Noopept its unique abilities.
Namely, neuropeptides are small molecules that can work as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in the whole of the nervous system, and help with neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders.
To be more precise, when peptides aren’t bonded, they aren’t going to last long enough in your gut to get properly absorbed, but they’ll get quickly dissolved before they’re able to get to your brain. When they’re double or triple bonded, they are stronger and more durable, and have a better chance of crossing the blood-brain barrier intact. This is why the synthesis of Noopept was so successful.