Semax
/ Synthetic heptapeptide Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro (stabilized ACTH(4-10) fragment analog)Terms in this page you can click for a plain-English popup: , , , , , , , .
Registered clinically in Russia for ischemic stroke, TIA, and cognitive disorders. No Western RCTs. Russian-origin literature dominates and has not been independently replicated.
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) — a fragment analog of ACTH(4-10) with a C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension for enzymatic stability. Proposed mechanisms include upregulation of BDNF and NGF expression in the hippocampus, modulation of the melanocortin system (MC3/MC4), inhibition of enkephalin-degrading enzymes, and anti-inflammatory effects. Mechanism work is largely from Russian institutes (Institute of Molecular Genetics, Moscow).
Limited and largely Russian. Semax is registered in Russia for ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and cognitive disorders. Multiple Russian clinical publications exist but are poorly indexed and rarely translated in full. No Western RCTs. No ClinicalTrials.gov entries from Western centers.
Russian reports describe favorable tolerability with no significant adverse events. Independent safety data from Western populations are not available.
Regulatory status
- FDA status:
- Not FDA-approved
Strong reliance on Russian-language literature that is difficult to critically appraise from English-language abstracts alone. Neurotrophic-factor upregulation claims are largely preclinical. Independent Western replication of stroke findings is absent. Sold in the US as "research chemical" only.