Nootropic (Russian) peptides · Evidence comparison
Semax vs Selank
The two Russian 'nootropic' peptides most often compared — one aimed at focus and neuroprotection, one at anxiety. Both have genuine but limited evidence.
Semax
Selank
Headline claim shown. Grades are claim-specific — see the full breakdown below.
The evidence, side by side
Every graded claim from each brief. Grades are read straight from the source-checked briefs — one molecule can be strong for one use and weak for another.
Cognitive / neuroprotective (Russian peptide)
Semax
Evidence grades
Anxiety / nootropic (Russian peptide)
Selank
Evidence grades
Regulatory status at a glance
Semax
Not FDA-approved and not approved by the EMA or other Western regulators. Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide (an analog of an ACTH 4-10 fragment, with no hormonal ACTH activity) developed in Russia by the Institute of Molecular Genetics; it has been registered/used clinically in Russia for ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, cognitive disorders, and optic-nerve conditions, typically as an intranasal solution. Outside Russia it has no marketing approval and is sold as a gray-market / 'research only' peptide. Its use for cognition, focus, or brain recovery in the US is unapproved. Status varies by country and can change; this is not medical or legal advice.
Selank
Not FDA-approved and not approved by the EMA or other Western regulators. Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide (an analog of the natural immune-modulating peptide tuftsin) developed in Russia by the Institute of Molecular Genetics and the Zakusov Institute of Pharmacology; it has been registered/used clinically in Russia as an anxiolytic (typically an intranasal solution). Outside Russia it has no marketing approval and is sold as a gray-market / 'research only' peptide. Its use for anxiety, focus, or mood in the US is unapproved. Status varies by country and can change; this is not medical or legal advice.
Key differences
- Semax is used clinically in Russia for stroke and cognition; Selank as an anxiolytic. Their headline human claims are both graded B — real trials, but small, mostly Russian, and often not randomized.
- Neither is approved by the FDA or EMA; both are gray-market / 'research only' outside Russia.
- As proven treatments by Western regulatory and evidence standards, both are graded C.
The bottom line
Semax leans cognitive and neuroprotective, Selank anxiolytic, but the evidence quality is similar: promising, clinically used in Russia, and not validated to Western standards. We don't recommend either — we grade the real-but-thin human data honestly.
PeptideIQ Base does not recommend, rank, or endorse any peptide, dose, or product. We grade the strength of the evidence so you can read it for yourself.
Read the full briefs
Full evidence brief
Semax →
A synthetic Russian neuropeptide based on a fragment of the hormone ACTH, used clinically in Russia for stroke and cognitive disorders; it has real human data and a strong neuroprotective mechanism, but the trials are mostly Russian, small, and often not randomized — so its 'nootropic' and brain-recovery reputation is promising rather than proven.
Full evidence brief
Selank →
A synthetic Russian anxiolytic peptide derived from the immune molecule tuftsin, used clinically in Russia for anxiety; the human evidence is genuine but thin — a few small, mostly Russian trials, none replicated to Western standards — so its calming and 'nootropic' reputation outruns what's actually been proven.
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The Peptide Evidence Report Card grades all our peptides S+ to C on the strength of the human evidence. Research only — no hype, never a recommendation.
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