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Semax vs Selank: What the Research Shows

Semax and Selank side by side: what they are, how they are regulated and what is still unknown.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureUpdated
ACTH(4-10) analogPCAC voted 8–5 for 503A (Jul 2026)SemaxSynthetic ACTH-fragment analog tested in small, mostly Russian trials; in one controlled study ulcer healing occurred in 89.5% of patients versus 30.8% of controls by day 14.[5]Cognitive & sleepTuftsin analogNot FDA approved · research chemicalSelankSynthetic tuftsin analog tested in small, mostly Russian trials; in one randomized comparison its anxiolytic effect was similar to an active comparator drug.[19]Cognitive & sleep+148% searches
Quick verdict

Where the research points

Summary of studies, not a recommendation

Consider Semax if…

  • you want controlled-trial data (a small peptic-ulcer trial): Ulcer healing at day 14 occurred in 89.5% of patients on intranasal semax versus 30.8% of controls.[5]
  • you want controlled-trial data in ischemic stroke patients: Semax raised plasma BDNF levels, which stayed high through the study.[3]

Consider Selank if…

  • you want randomized anxiety data (versus medazepam): Anxiolytic effects of selank and medazepam were similar; selank also showed antiasthenic and psychostimulant effects.[19]

What they have in common

  • A human study in 52 healthy participants compared Selank and Semax effects on brain connectivity (an imaging measure, not a clinical outcome)[16]
Semax is not FDA approved. Status labels come from public FDA and WADA records; see the sources below.
Side by side

Spec comparison

Showing 7 of 11 fields where the two differ. Category, WADA, Half-life, Evidence strength are the same or both unknown.

FieldSemaxSelank
ClassACTH(4-10) analogTuftsin analog
Also calledsemax nasal—
FDA statusPCAC voted 8–5 for 503A (Jul 2026)Not FDA approved · research chemical
PCAC vote, Jul 2026PCAC voted 8–5 for the 503A list (Jul 2026); not finalizedNot on the Jul 2026 agenda
Human studies we summarised6 human (5 randomized or controlled) of 15 summarised4 human (3 randomized or controlled) of 15 summarised
Typical study doses
Vial sizes sold5 mg, 10 mg, 30 mg5 mg, 10 mg

Bracketed values are pending a sourced figure. Legal data reflects the regulatory events in our tracker.

Taken together?

Semax and Selank together

People also search for this pair as a stack. The stack page covers timing and interaction questions as they are sourced. Evidence for the combination: 3 published studies included both (PMID 32342318, 28702721, 11443939).

Open the stack page
StackSemax + Selank, taken as separate injectionsStack page

Sources

  1. 1FDA gives notice that 12 peptides will be removed from Category 2 (nominations withdrawn)FDA · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3[The efficacy of semax in the tretament of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke].Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova · 2018PMID 29798983Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4Effects of Semax on the Default Mode Network of the Brain.Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine · 2018PMID 30225715Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5Therapy of peptic ulcer with semax peptide.Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine · 2002PMID 12459874Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6PubMed search: semax[tiab] (208 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7PubMed search: semax[tiab] AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (4 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8PubMed search: (selank[tiab] OR semax[tiab]) AND (randomized[tiab] OR patients[tiab] OR clinical[tiab]) (48 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9[Optimization of the treatment of anxiety disorders with selank].Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova · 2015PMID 26356395Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Selank, Peptide Analogue of Tuftsin, Protects Against Ethanol-Induced Memory Impairment by Regulating of BDNF Content in the Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex in Rats.Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine · 2019PMID 31625062Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11[COMPARISON OF PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HEPTAPEPTIDE SELANK AFTER INTRANASAL AND INTRAPERITONEAL ADMINISTRATION TO BALB/c AND C57BL/6 MICE.].Eksperimental'naia i klinicheskaia farmakologiia · 2016PMID 29787664Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12[Experimental optimization of learning and memory processes by selank].Eksperimental'naia i klinicheskaia farmakologiia · 2010PMID 20919548Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13PubMed search: selank[tiab] (68 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14PubMed search: selank[tiab] AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (4 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15PubMed search: (selank[tiab]) AND (semax[tiab])PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  16. 16Functional Connectomic Approach to Studying Selank and Semax Effects.Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections · 2020PMID 32342318Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  17. 17Peptides semax and selank affect the behavior of rats with 6-OHDA induced PD-like parkinsonism.Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections · 2017PMID 28702721Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  18. 18[Semax and selank inhibit the enkephalin-degrading enzymes from human serum]].Bioorganicheskaia khimiia · 2001PMID 11443939Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  19. 19[Efficacy and possible mechanisms of action of a new peptide anxiolytic selank in the therapy of generalized anxiety disorders and neurasthenia].Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova · 2008PMID 18454096Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  20. 20Advisory committee backs 6 of 7 peptides for the 503A listNCPA · 2026ncpa.org

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