Brain & mood

Semax

Peptilex evidence grade ABCDEUpdated 19 Oct 2026 How grades work

Type: Synthetic seven-amino-acid analogue of a fragment of ACTH
Main use or focus: Stroke recovery (Russia); focus, memory, "neuroprotection"

Key studies from the book

110 stroke patients; higher BDNF levels and faster functional recovery.
Gusev EI et al. – Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii, 2018
Rats; BDNF protein in the hippocampus up 1.4-fold.
Dolotov OV et al. – Brain Research, 2006

All key studies, risks and open questions are in the book.

Research at a glance

Publications by typePubMed, all years

All papers209

Human studies48

Animal studies only145

Randomized trials1

Meta-analyses & systematic reviews0

Source: PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov via the Peptilex study database

Go deeper

Full profile in the book

What it is, how it acts, the key studies, risks and open questions.

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An evidence grade (A–E) and the key studies for every peptide
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Registered trials

ClinicalTrials.gov · name in study title · ongoing first

No registered trial yet on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Latest key papers

PubMed · newest first

2025
The Effect of Peptide Semax, an ACTH(4-10) Analogue, on Intracellular Calcium Dynamics in Rat Brain Neurons
Animal studyKolbaev SN et al. · Bulletin of Experimental Biology and MedicinePMID 41171324
2025
Semax peptide targets the μ opioid receptor gene Oprm1 to promote deubiquitination and functional recovery after spinal cord injury in female mice
Animal studyLiu R et al. · British Journal of PharmacologyPMID 40692165
2024
Antidepressant-like and antistress effects of the ACTH(4-10) synthetic analogs Semax and Melanotan II on male rats in a model of chronic unpredictable stress
Animal studyInozemtseva LS et al. · European Journal of PharmacologyPMID 39442746
2021
Semax, synthetic ACTH(4-10) analogue, attenuates behavioural and neurochemical alterations following early-life fluvoxamine exposure in white rats
Animal studyGlazova NY et al. · NeuropeptidesPMID 33418449
2020
Functional Connectomic Approach to Studying Selank and Semax Effects
Human studyPanikratova YR et al. · Doklady Biological SciencesPMID 32342318
2018
Effects of Semax on the Default Mode Network of the Brain
Human studyLebedeva IS et al. · Bulletin of Experimental Biology and MedicinePMID 30225715
2018
[The efficacy of semax in the tretament of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke]
Clinical trialGusev EI et al. · Zhurnal Nevrologii I Psikhiatrii Imeni S.S. KorsakovaPMID 29798983
2010
Semax and Pro-Gly-Pro activate the transcription of neurotrophins and their receptor genes after cerebral ischemia
Animal studyDmitrieva VG et al. · Cellular and Molecular NeurobiologyPMID 19633950

In the research news

19 Oct 20261 new

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