Selank

Selank is a heptapeptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro ^[1]. The first four amino acids are tuftsin, a short peptide that comes from the heavy chain of immunoglobulin G; Selank adds a Pro-Gly-Pro sequence to it. It was developed in Russia as an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) drug, and much of the published research comes from the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and collaborating Russian institutes ^[5][6].

It is closely associated with Semax, another Russian heptapeptide that ends in the same Pro-Gly-Pro sequence, and the two are often sold together by research peptide vendors as “nootropics”.

Several mechanisms have been proposed, all from Russian laboratory work. In blood samples, Selank inhibited enzymes that break down enkephalins (natural opioid peptides) in a dose-dependent way, and researchers suggested this could explain its anti-anxiety effect ^[1]. In rats, Selank changed the expression of many genes involved in nerve signalling in the frontal cortex, with a pattern that correlated with the effects of GABA, leading the authors to propose that it acts partly as an allosteric modulator of the GABA system, the same system targeted by benzodiazepines ^[5].

In rats given alcohol long term, Selank prevented alcohol-related changes in the brain growth factor BDNF and improved performance on a memory test ^[6]. None of these mechanisms has been confirmed in human studies.

Animal studies from the same Russian network report anti-anxiety effects in stressed rats, including when combined with diazepam ^[7], and memory-protective effects in alcohol-exposed rats ^[6]. These are mostly single-laboratory findings that have not been replicated by independent groups outside Russia.

The human evidence consists of a few small studies published in Russian. In a 2008 randomised study, 62 patients with generalised anxiety disorder or neurasthenia received Selank or the benzodiazepine medazepam; the authors reported similar anti-anxiety effects, with Selank also having “antiasthenic and psychostimulant” effects ^[2]. A 2014 study comparing Selank with phenazepam in 60 patients with anxiety and somatoform disorders reported pronounced anti-anxiety and mild nootropic effects of Selank, lasting about a week after the last dose; the English abstract gives no statistical comparison between the drugs ^[3]. A 2015 study in 70 patients found that adding Selank to phenazepam reduced some of phenazepam’s side effects, such as sedation and memory problems ^[4].

These studies are small, were run by groups involved in developing the drug, and are available only in Russian with brief English abstracts. A 2021 US pharmacology review described Selank as a poorly studied Russian drug that was being sold to US consumers as a dietary supplement ^[8]. We found no trials registered or published outside Russia.

The Russian registered product is a 0.15% nasal solution, containing 1.5 mg of the active substance per mL ^[9]. The English abstracts of the human studies do not report the doses used, so we have not listed them. In rats, one study used 0.3 mg/kg per day by intraperitoneal injection for seven days ^[6]. No dose has been established outside the Russian product labelling, and animal doses cannot be converted to human doses.

The Russian product information lists possible allergic reactions and an unpleasant taste when drops reach the throat, and states that it should not be used in pregnancy, breastfeeding or under 18 ^[9]. The abstracts of the small clinical studies do not describe serious adverse effects ^[3][4], but the studies were not large or long enough to detect uncommon harms. The US FDA’s compounding page (as of April 2026) lists Selank acetate among substances previously placed in its category of bulk substances that may present significant safety risks in compounding, citing a potential for immunogenicity due to aggregation and peptide-related impurities; that nomination was later withdrawn ^[10].

In Russia, Selank nasal drops 0.15% are registered (registration ЛП-№(010951)-(РГ-RU), July 2025) with Peptogen as manufacturer, classed as an anxiolytic and sold without a prescription ^[9]. We found no marketing authorisation in the UK, US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. See our legal status overview and the UK and US pages.

Research-grade Selank is usually sold as a freeze-dried powder or pre-made nasal spray. See our guides to storing peptides and bacteriostatic water for general handling.

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