HEAD-TO-HEAD

SELANK VS SEMAX

Selank and Semax are sister Russian-developed heptapeptides built on the same C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro stabilizing strategy. Different parent sequences and different mechanisms: Selank is tuftsin-derived (GABAergic anxiolytic). Semax is ACTH(4-10)-derived (BDNF / TrkB neurotrophic). Often referenced together as the 'Russian heptapeptide pair' for complementary cognitive + stress-pathway effects.

A · No. 011

SELANK

Russian-Origin Tuftsin Analog · Anxiolytic-Path

B · No. 012

SEMAX

ACTH(4-10) Heptapeptide · Russian-origin

SIDE BY SIDE

FIELD

A · SELANK

B · SEMAX

Parent sequence

Tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg)

ACTH(4-10) (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly)

Sequence

Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro

Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro

Primary mechanism

GABA-A receptor modulation · HPA-axis stress response

BDNF / TrkB upregulation · neurotrophic

Research focus

Anxiolytic · immunomodulation

Cognitive · neuroprotection · stroke recovery

Russian registration

Registered as research compound (RAS)

Registered as clinical neuropeptide since 1994

FDA status

Research-use only

WADA status

Not listed (2026)

WHICH IS BETTER · BY GOAL

▶ Anxiety / stress researchA · SELANK

Selank's mechanism · GABAergic modulation · is the more direct anxiety target. Russian rodent EPM and conditioned-suppression data describe potency comparable to short-acting benzodiazepines at the doses tested.

▶ Cognitive / memory researchB · SEMAX

Semax has the documented BDNF + TrkB upregulation in rat hippocampus and basal forebrain (Dolotov 2006 series). Specific binding sites identified at KD ≈ 2.4 nM.

▶ Stroke-recovery researchB · SEMAX

Russian clinical literature describes Semax in stroke recovery protocols specifically. Selank not studied here.

STACKING NOTE

Selank + Semax is the standard 'Russian heptapeptide pair' framing. Different mechanisms, no head-to-head RCT for the combination, but commonly studied together in Russian preclinical literature for complementary cognitive + anxiolytic biology. See the Russian Heptapeptide Pair stack.

SOURCED FROM GIGACOMPOUNDS

Both compounds are available as research-grade material at GigaCompounds · ≥99% purity · per-batch CoA. For laboratory research use only.

SOURCE AT GIGACOMPOUNDS ▶