Semax: what it is, what the studies show and where it stands
Semax is a synthetic seven-amino-acid peptide (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro), an analog of the adrenocorticotropic hormone fragment 4-10. The Russian literature describes it as a nootropic drug given as nasal drops.
At a glance
US Not approved
Canada Not authorized
Group Brain and focus
Sources 13
Checked 10 Oct 2026What is Semax?
Semax is a synthetic seven-amino-acid peptide (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro), an analog of the adrenocorticotropic hormone fragment 4-10. The Russian literature describes it as a nootropic drug given as nasal drops. [1]
Other names: Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro, semax (heptapeptide).
How it has been given to people: into the nose (1% solution as nasal drops) in the human studies that name a route; no human study of injected Semax with a stated dose was found.
Looking for doses? Semax dosage chart and vial math
Is Semax approved in the US and Canada?
United States: Not FDA approved. FDA lists semax (heptapeptide) among bulk substances that were in compounding category 2 and whose nominations were then withdrawn. [10]
Canada: No Semax product in the Health Canada Drug Product Database. Health Canada named Semax among unauthorized injectable peptide drugs seized from an online seller. [11]
Both were checked on 10 Oct 2026 against the regulators' own product databases.
Which approved products contain Semax?
No approved medicine containing Semax was found in the US or Canada. Anything sold under this name is not a regulated product, so there is no label to check a dose against.
What human studies of Semax exist?
The 7 findings listed here: 7 from smaller or observational human studies.
Acute ischemic stroke: adding Semax to intensive therapy was reported to speed recovery of neurological function, especially movement. The comparison group was not randomized. [4]
After ischemic stroke: Semax raised plasma BDNF, and the authors linked this to faster functional recovery. [5]
Motor neuron disease: intranasal Semax did not change the course of denervation or the clinical ratings. A quality-of-life score improved. [3]
Refractory peptic ulcer: with intranasal Semax added to usual drugs, 89.5% of ulcers had healed at day 14 against 30.8% in the control group. [2]
Healthy volunteers: brain scans taken 5 and 20 minutes after intranasal 1% Semax (14 people) or placebo (10 people) showed a difference in one part of the default mode network. [7]
Chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency (187 patients): the authors reported clinical improvement and a lower risk of stroke and transient ischemic attacks. The abstract does not describe a control group or the dose. [6]
Optic nerve disease: Semax was given as nasal drops or by endonasal electrophoresis alongside standard therapy, with a third group as control. The authors reported a favorable effect on the speed of recovery and on vision. No dose in the abstract. [1]
What are the side effects of Semax?
Reported in human studies or on a label:
- In the 187-patient cerebrovascular study the authors reported few side effects and good tolerance, including in older patients. No figures are given in the abstract. [6]
- In 73 patients with brain damage after oxygen deprivation, EEG in some cases showed episodes of paroxysmal activity after a Semax dose, and the authors advised EEG monitoring at the first dose. The abstract calls the dose an injection and gives no route or amount. [8]
- FDA says it has no, or limited, safety information for the proposed routes and names immune reactions from aggregation and peptide impurities as possible risks of compounded product. [10]
How does Semax compare with others in its group?
These are the peptides filed under brain and focus. The last column says whether a randomized human trial is on record for each.
| Peptide | US | Canada | Half-life | Randomized human trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semax | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
| Selank | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | Yes |
| DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide) | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | Yes |
| Pinealon | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
| Cortagen | Not approved | Not authorized | Not found | No |
What could not be found
These were searched for and did not turn up. They are listed so a missing number is not mistaken for a hidden one.
- No human study of Semax injected under the skin or into muscle with a stated dose.
- Route for the two stroke studies [4], [5]: not stated in their abstracts, in English or in the Russian publisher abstract.
- No human half-life or pharmacokinetic figure. A PubMed search for semax with pharmacokinetics, half-life or bioavailability returned only rat and test-tube studies.
- No label was retrieved. The Russian state register of medicines responded, but its search needs a captcha, so the Russian registration, strengths and label dose are not recorded here and the products list is empty.
- No trial registered on ClinicalTrials.gov: a search for semax as the intervention returned no studies.
- Not named on the WADA Prohibited List (page checked 2026-10-10, [13]). The list also has an open class, S0, for substances with no current approval by any governmental health authority for human therapeutic use; whether it applies to this compound was not determined here.
Semax questions
Is Semax approved in the US?
Not FDA approved. FDA lists semax (heptapeptide) among bulk substances that were in compounding category 2 and whose nominations were then withdrawn.
Is Semax authorized in Canada?
No Semax product in the Health Canada Drug Product Database. Health Canada named Semax among unauthorized injectable peptide drugs seized from an online seller.
Has Semax been tested in a randomized human trial?
No randomized human trial was found. What exists is listed under the studies heading on this page.
Sources
Each one was opened on 10 Oct 2026 and matched to the line it supports.
- Polunin GS et al. [Evaluation of therapeutic effect of new Russian drug semax in optic nerve disease]. Vestn Oftalmol 2000. PubMed 10741256.
- Ivanikov IO et al. Therapy of peptic ulcer with semax peptide. Bull Exp Biol Med 2002. PubMed 12459874.
- Serdiuk AV et al. [The study of chronic partial denervation and quality of life in patients with motor neuron disease treated with semax]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2007. PubMed 18379501.
- Gusev EI et al. [Effectiveness of semax in acute period of hemispheric ischemic stroke (a clinical and electrophysiological study)]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 1997. PubMed 11517472.
- Gusev EI et al. [The efficacy of semax in the tretament of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2018. PubMed 29798983.
- Gusev EI et al. [Semax in prevention of disease progress and development of exacerbations in patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2005. PubMed 15792140.
- Lebedeva IS et al. Effects of Semax on the Default Mode Network of the Brain. Bull Exp Biol Med 2018. PubMed 30225715.
- Alekseeva GV et al. [Use of semax at a follow-up of patients with posthypoxic encephalopathy]. Anesteziol Reanimatol 1999. PubMed 10199046.
- Vanhee C et al. The occurrence of putative cognitive enhancing research peptides in seized pharmaceutical preparations: An incentive for controlling agencies to prepare for future encounters of the kind. Drug Test Anal 2020. PubMed 31667971.
- US Food and Drug Administration Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks 2026. fda.gov.
- Health Canada Unauthorized injectable peptide drugs seized and sold by Canada Peptide may pose serious health risks 2025. recalls-rappels.canada.ca.
- Health Canada Health Canada Drug Product Database, active ingredient search: semax 2026. health-products.canada.ca.
- World Anti-Doping Agency The Prohibited List 2026. wada-ama.org.
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