Semax vs Selank
Written by Aaron CuhaReviewed Sep 2026
The short answer
Two brain peptides developed in Russia, with different main uses.
- Semax people
- 354
- Semax nulls
- 0
- Selank people
- 192
- Selank nulls
- 1
Dose
No human dose established
Amounts that circulate in forums and on vendor pages are not a human dose. Amounts that were given in studies sit in Human evidence on this page.
Commonly reported injected amounts, in mcg. The Russian approved product is an intranasal solution, so it gives no injectable amount.
Amounts commonly reported for injected Semax, recorded for this archive's reconstitution calculator, are 200, 300 and 600 mcg. They are self-reports rather than trial doses, and this archive does not recommend any of them. No US approval sets a dose for injected Semax, and Semax is approved in Russia and Ukraine, where its label carries one. These reported amounts are not that label's dose.
| Reported amount | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|
| 200 mcg | Commonly reported, no published human dosing trial |
| 300 mcg | Commonly reported, no published human dosing trial |
| 600 mcg | Commonly reported, no published human dosing trial |
Dose
No human dose established
Amounts that circulate in forums and on vendor pages are not a human dose. Amounts that were given in studies sit in Human evidence on this page.
Commonly reported injected amounts, in mcg. The Russian approved product is an intranasal solution.
Amounts commonly reported for injected Selank, recorded for this archive's reconstitution calculator, are 250, 300 and 500 mcg. They are self-reports rather than trial doses, and this archive does not recommend any of them. No US approval sets a dose for injected Selank, and Selank is approved in Russia, where its label carries one. These reported amounts are not that label's dose.
| Reported amount | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|
| 250 mcg | Commonly reported, no published human dosing trial |
| 300 mcg | Commonly reported, no published human dosing trial |
| 500 mcg | Commonly reported, no published human dosing trial |
First-hand reports are counted on each profile and never added together. This page sets two published records side by side. It does not pick a winner.
Column A
SemaxSemax (synthetic ACTH 4-10 analogue)
A lab-made peptide nose spray approved in Russia for stroke and memory problems. It is studied for raising BDNF, a protein that helps brain cells grow.
Column B
SelankSelank (synthetic tuftsin analogue)
A lab-made peptide from Russia, used for anxiety. It is said to calm people without making them sleepy.
Side by side, on the facts we can check
| What we compare | Semax | Selank |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Nootropic & CNS | Nootropic & CNS |
| FDA status | Not FDA-approved (approved in Russia and Ukraine). In July 2026 the FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted in favor of letting pharmacies make it. The FDA has not written the rule yet | Not FDA-approved (approved in Russia) |
| Half-life | Short (minutes); intranasal use | Short (minutes); intranasal use |
| Molecular weight | 813.9 Da | 751.9 Da |
| How it works | It raises BDNF and NGF, two proteins that help brain cells grow and connect. It also works on the brain's melanocortin and dopamine systems. The idea is that this protects brain cells and helps them adapt. | It works on GABA, the brain's main calming chemical, and on mood chemicals like serotonin. It slows the breakdown of enkephalins, the body's own calming and pain-relief chemicals. It also affects BDNF. Together this is thought to ease anxiety. |
| Studies in people | 4 | 3 |
| Evidence | Moderate: 4 completed trials, 354 people given it | Moderate: 3 completed trials, 192 people given it |
| Legal status, US | Not approved; research use only | Not approved; research use only |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Semax and Selank?
Semax: A lab-made peptide nose spray approved in Russia for stroke and memory problems. It is studied for raising BDNF, a protein that helps brain cells grow. Selank: A lab-made peptide from Russia, used for anxiety. It is said to calm people without making them sleepy.
Which has stronger research evidence, Semax or Selank?
Each compound gets a band worked out from facts we counted, with the math shown. Semax is Moderate (4 completed trials, 354 people given it). Selank is Moderate (3 completed trials, 192 people given it). That counts how much has been done in people. It does not rate whether either one works, and neither one is called the winner.
Are Semax and Selank FDA-approved?
Semax: Not FDA-approved (approved in Russia and Ukraine). In July 2026 the FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted in favor of letting pharmacies make it. The FDA has not written the rule yet. Selank: Not FDA-approved (approved in Russia).
Related posts
Blog articles that cover Semax or Selank, newest first.
- Research / Sep 27, 2026 / 9 minPeptides for Sleep: DSIP, Epitalon and Pinealon Against the Evidence
- Safety / Sep 27, 2026 / 9 minPeptide Side Effects by Class: What Is Documented, What Is Anecdotal
- Regulation / Sep 27, 2026 / 9 minFDA Peptide Status in 2026: The Category 2 Removals, the July Votes, and What Actually Changed
Reviewed Sep 2026. This page puts two published records side by side. It is for learning, and it is not medical advice. When this site shows a dose, it is the dose a trial or a clinic actually used, or what people say they did, with the source attached. None of it tells you what to take.