Semax and Selank are medicines in Russia. The evidence rarely leaves the country
Both nasal-spray peptides are registered in Russia, for stroke recovery and anxiety. The studies behind them are small, and few have been repeated elsewhere.
At a glance
- Semax
- A fragment of the pituitary hormone ACTH; registered in Russia for stroke and some brain conditions
- Selank
- Based on the immune peptide tuftsin; registered in Russia for anxiety
- Semax study
- 110 people after stroke: Semax raised blood BDNF and was linked to better recovery scores (2018)
- Selank study
- 70 people with anxiety disorders: phenazepam alone vs phenazepam plus Selank (2015)
- Adamax
- No studies found in PubMed (November 2026)
The research, explained
Semax and Selank were both developed in Russia, are given as nasal sprays, and are registered there as medicines. Neither is approved in the US, UK or EU.
Semax is a fragment of ACTH, a pituitary hormone, with a short tail added so it lasts longer. A 2018 Russian study followed 110 people recovering from an ischemic stroke, with or without Semax alongside rehabilitation. Semax raised blood levels of BDNF, a protein that supports brain cells, and the authors reported faster recovery on the Barthel index, a score of everyday independence. The abstract does not describe a placebo group.
Selank is a longer-lasting version of tuftsin, a tiny immune peptide. A 2015 Russian study compared 30 patients treated with phenazepam, a benzodiazepine tranquilizer, with 40 given phenazepam plus Selank. The authors reported that the combination worked sooner on a standard rating scale and reduced phenazepam’s side effects, such as sedation and memory problems.
Both studies are small, published in Russian, and lack the large placebo-controlled design regulators elsewhere expect. Much of the supporting work is in animals, such as a 2017 study in stressed rats in which Selank strengthened the anti-anxiety effect of diazepam. FDA advisers discussed Semax in July 2026 as a possible compounding ingredient, which is not an approval.
Some shops sell “Adamax”, presented as a stronger variant of Semax. We found no studies of it indexed in PubMed, so published research says nothing about its effects or safety.
Semax and Selank are listed in the research shop as vials, dual-chamber cartridges and nasal-spray formats. They are laboratory materials, not the registered Russian medicines.
What does this mean?
Semax and Selank have more human data than many peptides, but it comes from small studies in one country. That is not enough to know how well they work or how safe they are.
What don’t we know yet?
Independent placebo-controlled trials outside Russia, long-term safety data, and any evidence in healthy people seeking better focus or calm are all missing.
Watch and learn
Videos discussing the compounds in this article, plus background on the biology or the research methods. Each card explains its connection; recordings may predate the findings described here.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA peptide compounding meeting: July 24, 2026
Full meeting covering DSIP (emideltide), Semax and Epitalon. Advisory discussion is not drug approval.
Official FDA advisory committee recording
Official regulatory recording
The original July 24, 2026 FDA discussion of DSIP, Semax and Epitalon; it documents an advisory review.
khanacademymedicine
Types of neurotransmitters
The roles of signalling molecules such as GABA, glutamate and peptide neurotransmitters.
Khan Academy · nervous-system physiology
Related biology
Background on neurotransmitter biology for understanding Semax, Selank. It does not demonstrate benefits of this compound or formulation.
National Institute of Mental Health
Different types of clinical research
An introduction to the different questions and designs used in studies involving people.
NIMH · US National Institutes of Health
Research skills
Helps you judge the study design or uncertainty in Semax, Selank research; it is not a trial of the compound.
Sources and references
- The efficacy of semax in the treatment of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke (in Russian)Gusev et al. · Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii · 2018
- Optimization of the treatment of anxiety disorders with selank (in Russian)Medvedev et al. · Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii · 2015
- Peptide Selank Enhances the Effect of Diazepam in Reducing Anxiety in Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Conditions in RatsKasian et al. · Behavioural Neurology · 2017
- July 23–24, 2026: Meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory CommitteeUS Food and Drug Administration
VETUD Learn explains published research in plain language. It is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or changing any treatment.
In the research shop
Check the catalog for related laboratory research materials. These products are separate from the approved medicines and clinical trial formulations discussed here.
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