# Semax, Selank & Pinealon: What the Research Shows About Nootropic Peptides Evidence & Research Status Evidence LevelPreclinical / Early-Stage Research FDA StatusNot FDA-approved for human use Regulatory StatusResearch Use Only (RUO) — not for human consumption Last UpdatedAugust 5, 2026 What This Article Covers Semax and Selank were both developed at Russia's Institute of Molecular Genetics in the 1980s, and both are still manufactured and used clinically in Russia and parts of Eastern Europe today — Semax… Primary References [pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16996037/) [pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3987924/) Evidence Level reflects the general state of published research for this compound category and is not a claim about the safety, efficacy, or approval status of any product sold on this site. All compounds are offered strictly for research use. *By Charles Fowler, Founder of Portal to Wellness · Last reviewed: July 2026 · ~10 min read* *A quick note on why I wrote this: I’m not a doctor or a neuroscientist — I’m a founder who spends my days reading the peptide literature and vetting what we carry. Semax, Selank, and Pinealon come up constantly in cognitive-performance research circles, and the three compounds get lumped together so often that it’s easy to lose track of what’s actually been studied for each one, and how much of that evidence comes from where. Below is a plain-language walk-through of the published research. Everything here is educational only, reflects published, publicly available research, and is not medical advice.* Key Takeaways - Semax, Selank, and Pinealon are often grouped as “nootropic peptides” but have very different depths of evidence. - Semax has the most mechanistically detailed literature, centered on BDNF and neuroprotection. - Selank’s research skews toward anxiolytic and stress-modulating effects. - Pinealon’s evidence is the thinnest of the three, concentrated in a single research tradition. ## Three peptides, one shared origin story Semax and Selank were both developed at Russia’s Institute of Molecular Genetics in the 1980s, and both are still manufactured and used clinically in Russia and parts of Eastern Europe today — Semax primarily for ischemic stroke and cognitive impairment, Selank for anxiety and neurasthenia. Pinealon comes from a different lineage entirely: it’s one of the short peptide “bioregulators” developed by Vladimir Khavinson’s group at the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, a research program that has spent decades studying tissue-specific peptides derived from organ extracts, including the pineal gland. All three are grouped under the “nootropic peptide” umbrella because their proposed mechanisms converge on the central nervous system, but they are structurally unrelated and the depth of published evidence behind each one is very different. Semax has the largest and most mechanistically detailed literature. Selank has meaningful clinical research, mostly focused on anxiety. Pinealon has the thinnest independent evidence base of the three, concentrated almost entirely within the Khavinson research tradition rather than replicated broadly in Western literature. ## Semax: the most-studied of the three Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide derived from the N-terminal fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH(4-10), modified to resist rapid enzymatic breakdown. It’s one of the more mechanistically well-characterized nootropic peptides in the research literature, with proposed effects across several overlapping pathways: - **BDNF and TrkB signaling.** Multiple rodent studies report that repeated Semax administration elevates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and upregulates TrkB receptor density in prefrontal cortex tissue — the region most associated with working memory and executive function. - **Growth factor upregulation.** Research also points to increases in VEGF (supporting cerebral angiogenesis) and NGF/NT-3, both tied to neuronal survival and plasticity. - **Neuroprotection in ischemia models.** A genome-wide transcriptional analysis in a rat focal-ischemia model found Semax measurably altered expression of genes tied to immune and vascular response in brain tissue following induced stroke, with the peptide’s effect on immune-related gene expression becoming more pronounced 24 hours post-injury. - **Monoamine modulation.** Semax has also been shown to influence serotonin and dopamine metabolism, which may partly explain reported effects on attention and mood in the animal literature. It’s worth being direct about the evidence gap here: Semax’s clinical use for stroke and cognitive impairment is well-established in Russia, but there are no completed clinical trials testing Semax in Western regulatory frameworks, and none in Parkinson’s disease specifically, despite growing preclinical interest in that direction. The mechanistic story is genuinely well-built from rodent and cell-culture work; the human clinical evidence base outside Russia is thin. ## Selank: the anxiety and stress research Selank is a synthetic analogue of tuftsin, an endogenous immunomodulatory peptide, engineered for improved stability. Where Semax’s research skews toward cognition and neuroprotection, Selank’s published research skews toward anxiolytic and stress-modulating effects: - Clinical research in Russia has examined Selank specifically for generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia, with reported anxiolytic, anti-asthenic (anti-fatigue), and mild psychostimulant effects — without the sedation or dependence profile associated with benzodiazepines. - A 2025 preclinical study in chronic stress models found Selank reduced serotonin transporter (SERT) expression in hippocampal tissue after 14 days of administration, a mechanism that would raise synaptic serotonin availability without directly agonizing serotonin receptors — mechanistically distinct from SSRIs. - Selank is also studied for effects on GABAergic signaling, which is consistent with its reported calming, non-sedating profile in the existing literature. ## Semax and Selank studied together Because the two peptides are so often stacked in research studies, they’ve also been studied head-to-head. A functional connectomic study examined resting-state functional connectivity in 52 healthy participants after Semax and Selank administration, comparing how each peptide shifted communication patterns between brain networks. The comparative research generally supports the idea that the two peptides work through at least partially distinct pathways — Semax leaning toward neurotrophic and cognitive-network effects, Selank toward anxiolytic and stress-network effects — which is the mechanistic rationale researchers cite for studying them in combination rather than as substitutes for one another. ## Pinealon: promising mechanism, thin independent evidence Pinealon (Glu-Asp-Arg) is a synthetic tripeptide positioned within Khavinson’s broader “peptide bioregulator” framework — short peptides proposed to act as gene-expression modulators rather than classical receptor ligands. The hypothesis is that because of its small size, Pinealon can cross cell and nuclear membranes and interact directly with DNA to influence transcription in specific tissues, including the pineal gland, retina, and brain. Preclinical research from this tradition reports neuroprotective effects across hypoxia, neurodegeneration, retinal-protection, and cognitive-aging models, generally showing reduced markers of cell damage under induced stress conditions. That said, we want to be straightforward about the state of the evidence: the published data on Pinealon specifically is concentrated almost entirely within the Khavinson research group and has not been widely independently replicated outside that lineage. Compared to Semax and Selank, which have been studied by multiple independent research groups across different countries, Pinealon’s evidence base is earlier-stage and narrower. We think it’s worth knowing about given the mechanistic overlap with the other two compounds, but researchers should weigh the more limited, less-replicated literature accordingly. ## Where the research stands today Taken together, the honest summary is: Semax has the deepest and most mechanistically detailed research record of the three, with a long history of clinical use in Russia but a real gap in Western clinical trial data. Selank has solid clinical research specifically around anxiety and stress, with newer mechanistic work explaining how. Pinealon has an interesting proposed mechanism and a growing preclinical dataset, but the evidence is younger, narrower, and less independently replicated than the other two. None of these peptides have completed FDA-regulated clinical trials, and all research use should be treated accordingly. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Are Semax, Selank, and Pinealon approved medications in the United States?** No. None of the three are FDA-approved for any use in the United States. Semax is approved and clinically used in Russia; Selank is used clinically in Russia as well. All three are sold in the U.S. strictly for laboratory research use only. **What’s the difference between Semax and Selank?** They’re structurally unrelated peptides with different research focuses. Semax’s literature centers on BDNF/neurotrophic signaling and neuroprotection; Selank’s literature centers on anxiolytic and stress-modulating effects via serotonergic and GABAergic pathways. **Is Pinealon as well-studied as Semax or Selank?** No, not currently. Pinealon’s published research is concentrated within a single research tradition (the Khavinson bioregulator peptide program) and hasn’t seen the same breadth of independent replication that Semax and Selank have. **Can these peptides be combined in research studies?** Some researchers study Semax and Selank together based on their proposed complementary mechanisms, and comparative neuroimaging research supports that they act through at least partially distinct pathways. Any combination study design is a matter for the researcher and their institutional guidelines. ## References - Semax, an analog of ACTH(4-10) with cognitive effects, lacks the adrenocortical activity of ACTH. [pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16996037/) - Semax, an analogue of adrenocorticotropin(4-10), is a synthetic neuropeptide with cognitive and neuroprotective properties. [pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16996699/) - The peptide Semax affects the expression of genes related to the immune and vascular systems in rat brain focal ischemia: genome-wide transcriptional analysis. [pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3987924/) - The Potential of the Peptide Drug Semax and Its Derivatives (recent review). [pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12755871/) - Peptides Semax and Selank affect the behavior of rats. [pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28702721/) - Functional Connectomic Approach to Studying Selank and Semax. [pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32342318/) - Identification of Peptide AEDG in the Polypeptide Complex of the Pineal Gland (background on the pineal peptide bioregulator research tradition). [pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29124531/) 📚 Part of our [Cognitive Performance](https://portaltowellness.net/neuropeptide-cognitive-kit/) research guide. Available at PTW Neuropeptide Research Compounds — Research Use Only [Shop Neuropeptide Research Compounds →](https://portaltowellness.net/shop/cognitive-performance-stack/) *This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and does not describe the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. Portal to Wellness does not sell products intended for human consumption or clinical use; all compounds referenced are sold strictly for laboratory research use only (RUO). Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health routine.* ### Continue Your Research Related Articles [DSIP & Epithalon: What the Research Says About Sleep and Circadian Peptides](https://portaltowellness.net/research/dsip-epithalon-what-the-research-says-about-sleep-and-circadian-peptides/) [Thymosin Alpha-1 & LL-37: What the Research Says About Immune-Modulating Peptides](https://portaltowellness.net/research/thymosin-alpha-1-ll-37-what-the-research-says-about-immune-modulating-peptides/) Related Products [Semax, Selank and P21 Research Set — Research Use Only](https://portaltowellness.net/shop/cognitive-performance-stack/) [Selank – 10mg/vial (Research Use Only)](https://portaltowellness.net/shop/selank-10mg-vial/) [ARA-290 – 10mg/vial (Research Use Only)](https://portaltowellness.net/shop/ara-290-10mg-vial/) Related Research Guide [Neuropeptide Research Compounds](https://portaltowellness.net/neuropeptide-cognitive-kit/) Related Category [Neuropeptide Research Compounds](https://portaltowellness.net/neuropeptide-cognitive-kit/) Related FAQ [General Research & Ordering FAQ](https://portaltowellness.net/faq/) More Research [Browse the full PTW Research Hub →](https://portaltowellness.net/research/) ## Amounts used in the published research **Every human amount below was given intranasally or orally — none by injection.** Semax and Selank were developed and studied in Russia as nasal preparations; the Pinealon human work is oral capsules. Injection appears only in rodent studies, and by the intraperitoneal route. **There is no established human injectable amount for any of these three, and no bridging pharmacokinetic data to derive one.** Much of this literature is Russian-language, often without placebo control. ### Semax | Study | Amount | Route | Schedule | n | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Gusev 1997, ischemic stroke | 12 mg/day (moderate), 18 mg/day (severe) | Intranasal | 5 or 10 days | 30 treated + 80 controls; not randomized or placebo-controlled | | Gusev / Martynov 2018, post-stroke | 6 mg/day | Intranasal | Two 10-day courses, 20-day gap | 110; non-randomized | | Serdiuk 2007, motor neuron disease | 12 mg/day (1% solution) | Intranasal | Two 10-day courses | 27 — **no effect** on EMG or disease course | | Lebedeva 2018, healthy volunteers | Single dose, 1% solution | Intranasal | Once | 14 vs 10 placebo — the only placebo-controlled healthy-volunteer study found | | Ashmarin 1997, healthy volunteers | 0.015–0.050 mg/kg | Intranasal | Single | Effects reported to persist 20–24 h | Animal: 100 µg/kg IP (rat stroke), 150 µg/kg IP (rat post-infarct). Rodent tracer work shows rapid enzymatic breakdown, with Pro-Gly-Pro the dominant metabolite. **No human pharmacokinetic study and no numeric plasma half-life have been published.** ### Selank **The published Selank trials do not state their dose.** Zozulya 2008 (n=62, anxiety, 14 days, reported comparable to a benzodiazepine) and Medvedev 2014/2015 are real studies, but none of the accessible abstracts specify an amount or route. The “1800 mcg/day” figure widely quoted online appears only on retailer and pharmacy pages — we could not trace it to any primary source, so we are not repeating it as fact. Animal: 100 µg/kg in mice (anxiolytic, open field); 300 µg/kg intranasal in rats, described as the most effective anxiolytic amount. In vitro: 10⁻⁷ M suppressed IL-6 gene expression in patient blood cells. No numeric half-life or human PK published. ### Pinealon Only one human study states an amount: Nazimko 2012 used an **oral capsule, 100 mcg twice daily for 2 weeks** . Other human reports give no dose at all. **No randomized placebo-controlled human trial exists** , all of the work comes from a single research group, and endpoints are non-standard (“biological age,” “aging rate”). No pharmacokinetic data of any kind — no half-life, no bioavailability, no ADME. *Correction to a widely repeated claim:* the “EDR 400 mcg/kg IP in 5xFAD mice” figure circulating online is wrong. In the paper it comes from, that dose was a different peptide (KED), not EDR. ### Sources Gusev 1997 — [PMID 11517472](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11517472/) · Gusev/Martynov 2018 — [PMID 29798983](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29798983/) · Serdiuk 2007 — [PMID 18379501](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18379501/) Lebedeva 2018, Bull Exp Biol Med — [PMID 30225715](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30225715/) · Ashmarin 1997 — [PMID 9173745](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9173745/) Zozulya 2008, Selank vs medazepam — [PMID 18454096](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18454096/) · Selank IL-6 — [PMID 18577961](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18577961/) Nazimko 2012, Pinealon oral — [PMID 22708445](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22708445/) · Semax brain uptake — [PMID 16523722](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16523722/) Sold for research and identification purposes only. Not for human dosing, injection, or ingestion, and not for veterinary use. This page describes published research; it is not instructions for use. For guidance about your own situation, speak with a qualified healthcare professional. --- Source: https://portaltowellness.net/research/semax-selank-pinealon-what-the-research-shows-about-nootropic-peptides/ Research use only. Terms: https://portaltowellness.net/research-use-only/