Anxiolytic / nootropic peptide (tuftsin analog)
A synthetic heptapeptide derived from the immune peptide tuftsin, used as an anti-anxiety and mild cognitive agent.
| Class / type | Anxiolytic / nootropic peptide (tuftsin analog) |
|---|---|
| Category | Cognitive & Nootropic |
| Status (Jul 2026) | Research use only |
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide based on tuftsin, developed in Russia as an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) drug and adaptogen. It's frequently mentioned alongside Semax as its calming counterpart.
It isn't FDA-approved; in the US it's sold as a research chemical, usually as a nasal spray.
Selank modulates GABA, serotonin and BDNF systems and inhibits the enzyme that breaks down enkephalins (the body's natural calming peptides). It enhances GABA activity without binding the benzodiazepine site, which is thought to explain calm without heavy sedation.
Registered in Russia for generalized anxiety since around 2009, with small human trials suggesting anxiety reduction without sedation, tolerance or dependence. Most evidence is rodent-based or from small non-Western studies, so it's not FDA-grade.
Reported 'anxiety relief without the fog' - calmer, clearer states without the drowsiness, memory impairment or rebound anxiety associated with benzodiazepines.
Some users also report mild cognitive and stress-resilience benefits.
Evidence is largely preclinical or from small non-Western trials; effects are subtle for some. Long-term safety data are limited.
Possible mild fatigue, GI upset or nasal irritation, and gray-market purity concerns.
Marketed as a drug in Russia; research-use-only in the US. Commonly used intranasally, sometimes stacked with Semax.
'Anxiety relief without the fog' - calming without drowsiness or rebound anxiety.
Approved as a drug in Russia; NOT FDA-approved; research-use-only. (Not among the Apr 2026 removals / Jul 2026 PCAC list.) Verify.