Head to head
Semax / Selank against Semax
The combined spray against one of its components. No study has tested the two together, the single products have small unblinded Russian trials, and a combined bottle at 2.5 mg per mL of each inverts the ratio the two are registered at in Russia.
Column A
Semax / SelankSemax and Selank blend (Russian nootropic peptide pair)
Two Russian peptides sold as a pair, either as separate nasal sprays or as one combined bottle, on the pitch that one sharpens and the other calms. No study has tested them together. The single products have Russian clinical data, 110 stroke patients for Semax and 62 anxiety patients for Selank, and neither was blinded against placebo. A combined spray at 2.5 mg per mL of each inverts the ratio the two are registered at in Russia.
Column B
SemaxSemax (synthetic ACTH 4-10 analogue)
A synthetic heptapeptide approved in Russia for stroke and cognitive disorders, studied for BDNF-driven neuroprotection.
Side by side, on the facts we can check
| Attribute | Semax / Selank | Semax |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Nootropic & CNS | Nootropic & CNS |
| FDA status | Not approved as a blend or as single agents. Both are registered medicines in Russia; neither has FDA or EMA approval, and no combination product is registered anywhere. | Not FDA-approved (approved in Russia and Ukraine). PCAC voted to recommend for compounding (July 2026); awaiting FDA rulemaking |
| Half-life | Not one number, and neither component has published nasal pharmacokinetics in the West. Both are described as clearing within minutes. | Short (minutes); intranasal use |
| Molecular weight | Mixture; Semax 813.9 Da, Selank 751.9 Da | 813.9 Da |
| Mechanism | Semax, an ACTH 4-10 analogue with added residues for stability, raises BDNF and NGF expression and modulates melanocortin and dopaminergic signalling; in rats a single dose raised hippocampal BDNF protein and trkB phosphorylation. Selank, a tuftsin analogue, modulates GABA and monoamine systems and influences enkephalin degradation and BDNF expression, producing anxiolysis without the sedation profile of benzodiazepines. The combination rationale is that the two act on overlapping neurotrophic pathways from opposite directions on arousal. No study has measured what either does to the other. | Increases BDNF and NGF expression and modulates the melanocortin and dopaminergic systems, supporting neuroprotection and synaptic plasticity. |
| Human studies cited | 2 | 1 |
| Legal status, US | Not approved; research use only | Not approved; research use only |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Semax / Selank and Semax?
Semax / Selank: Two Russian peptides sold as a pair, either as separate nasal sprays or as one combined bottle, on the pitch that one sharpens and the other calms. No study has tested them together. The single products have Russian clinical data, 110 stroke patients for Semax and 62 anxiety patients for Selank, and neither was blinded against placebo. A combined spray at 2.5 mg per mL of each inverts the ratio the two are registered at in Russia. Semax: A synthetic heptapeptide approved in Russia for stroke and cognitive disorders, studied for BDNF-driven neuroprotection.
Which has stronger research evidence, Semax / Selank or Semax?
This database does not grade compounds. It counts what was run in people: 2 of the 5 studies cited on the Semax / Selank profile were human work, against 1 of 4 for Semax. Those counts are of our own citation lists and understate any larger literature, and neither is a recommendation.
Are Semax / Selank and Semax FDA-approved?
Semax / Selank: Not approved as a blend or as single agents. Both are registered medicines in Russia; neither has FDA or EMA approval, and no combination product is registered anywhere.. Semax: Not FDA-approved (approved in Russia and Ukraine). PCAC voted to recommend for compounding (July 2026); awaiting FDA rulemaking.
Related posts
Blog articles that cover Semax / Selank or Semax, newest first.
- Research / Sep 8, 2026 / 9 minPeptides for Sleep: DSIP, Epitalon and Pinealon Against the Evidence
- Safety / Sep 8, 2026 / 9 minPeptide Side Effects by Class: What Is Documented, What Is Anecdotal
- Regulation / Sep 8, 2026 / 9 minFDA Peptide Status in 2026: The Category 2 Removals, the July Votes, and What Actually Changed
Reviewed Sep 2026. This page sets two published records side by side. It is educational, it is not medical advice, and it contains no dosing protocols or recommendations for personal use.