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At a glance
Selank occupies a unique position in the peptide landscape: it's an approved medicine in Russia, prescribed as a nasal spray for anxiety and cognitive support since 2009 — but it has never been approved or formally studied in any Western country. The clinical evidence that exists is promising but limited by Western standards, and almost all of it is published in Russian-language journals.
Consistent anxiolytic and nootropic results in rats and mice. Strongest evidence for GABA modulation, monoamine metabolism, and BDNF upregulation. Most research from Russian institutions.
Three Russian clinical studies with approximately 150 total participants comparing Selank to benzodiazepines for anxiety disorders. All open-label, no placebo-controlled RCTs. Published in Russian-language journals.
Approved in Russia since 2009 with a good tolerability profile. No serious adverse events in published studies. Superior tolerability vs benzodiazepines. Limited long-term data outside Russian clinical practice.
How are these scores calculated?
Selank has a stronger safety and tolerability profile than most non-approved peptides, thanks to years of clinical use in Russia. Here's what that means: the anxiolytic mechanism is well-characterized and clinical signals are encouraging, but the evidence hasn't been validated through the rigorous, placebo-controlled trials that Western regulatory agencies require.
New research, delivered clearly
When new studies publish or clinical trials report results, we'll break them down in plain language.
Quick facts
- Molecular weight
- 751.9 Da
- Amino acids
- 7 (heptapeptide)
- CAS Number
- 129954-34-3
- Derived from
- Tuftsin + Pro-Gly-Pro
- FDA status
- Not approved
- Russia status
- Approved (2009)
Amino acid sequence
TKPRPGP
What is Selank?
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide — a chain of just 7 amino acids (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) — developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the V.V. Zakusov Research Institute of Pharmacology.[13]
It was designed by taking tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg), a naturally occurring tetrapeptide found in the heavy chain of immunoglobulin G (IgG) that plays a role in immune regulation, and adding a tripeptide tail (Pro-Gly-Pro) to improve its metabolic stability and extend its duration of action.
This design is significant: tuftsin itself is an endogenous peptide your immune system already uses. By stabilizing it, the Russian researchers created a compound that retains tuftsin's immunomodulatory properties while gaining additional neurotropic effects — primarily anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) and nootropic (cognitive-enhancing) activity.
In 2009, the Russian Federation Ministry of Health approved Selank as a nasal spray for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and as a nootropic agent. It is prescribed under the brand name "Selank" as 0.15% nasal drops. It remains one of only a handful of peptide-based anxiolytics approved anywhere in the world.
Important context: Selank has never been submitted for approval to the FDA, EMA, or any Western regulatory agency. All clinical studies were conducted within the Russian regulatory framework, published primarily in Russian-language journals, and have not undergone the kind of independent international validation that Western-approved drugs require.
How it works
In plain terms, Selank appears to reduce anxiety and support cognitive function by modulating several neurotransmitter systems simultaneously — particularly the GABA system (your brain's primary "calming" system), serotonin, dopamine, and the endogenous opioid system (enkephalins).[13]
What makes Selank mechanistically interesting is that it achieves anxiolytic effects similar to benzodiazepines (like Valium or Xanax) but through a fundamentally different mechanism — one that does not appear to cause sedation, dependence, or withdrawal.
Detailed mechanism (for advanced readers)
Selank's mechanism of action is multifaceted. Based on published preclinical and mechanistic studies:
- GABA allosteric modulation: Selank acts as a positive allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors, changing the affinity of the receptor for GABA without directly binding to the benzodiazepine site. A 2016 rat frontal cortex study found significant changes in 45 of 84 GABAergic neurotransmission genes within 1 hour of administration.[11] Unlike benzodiazepines, Selank's binding site appears distinct, which may explain the absence of sedation and dependence.[12]
- Enkephalin system: Selank dose-dependently inhibits enkephalin-degrading enzymes (IC50 15 microM), increasing the half-life of endogenous enkephalins. This was identified as a key mechanism behind its anxiolytic activity, particularly in patients with generalized anxiety disorder who showed reduced enkephalin levels.[1]
- Monoamine metabolism: Studies in mice show Selank affects serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, striatum, and frontal cortex — with strain-dependent effects.[6]
- BDNF upregulation: Intranasal Selank rapidly elevates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the hippocampus, a protein critical for neuronal survival, learning, and memory.[5]
- Immunomodulation: As a tuftsin derivative, Selank modulates the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and affects IL-6 expression. It also induces interferon-alpha production, which underlies its antiviral properties in animal models.[4]
How it differs from related compounds: Unlike semax (the other major Russian nootropic peptide, derived from ACTH), Selank is primarily anxiolytic with secondary nootropic effects, whereas semax is primarily nootropic/neuroprotective with secondary mood effects. Unlike benzodiazepines, Selank does not directly bind the benzodiazepine site on GABA-A receptors and does not cause tolerance, dependence, or withdrawal.
What the research says
Selank is rare among non-Western-approved peptides: it has actual clinical data from studies comparing it head-to-head with established drugs. The limitation is that all this data comes from Russian institutions, was published in Russian-language journals, and was generated under a different regulatory framework than Western-approved drugs.
Research timeline
Selank's research history spans three decades, with a notable milestone in 2009 when it became an approved medicine in Russia:
- 1990Preclinical
Development begins
Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Genetics (Russian Academy of Sciences) begin developing tuftsin analogs with enhanced stability and neurotropic properties.
- 2001Preclinical
Enkephalinase inhibition mechanism identified
Kost et al. demonstrate that Selank dose-dependently inhibits enkephalin-degrading enzymes, providing a mechanistic basis for anxiolytic activity.
- 2003Preclinical
Nootropic effects in animals
Kozlovskaya et al. show Selank activates learning in rats with initially poor learning ability, establishing the nootropic claim.
- 2008Human study
Key clinical studies published
Zozulya et al. publish the largest clinical study (n=62) showing anxiolytic effects comparable to medazepam. Uchakina et al. document immunomodulatory effects in patients. BDNF upregulation demonstrated in rats.
- 2009Regulatory
Russian regulatory approval
The Russian Federation Ministry of Health approves Selank nasal spray for clinical use as an anxiolytic and nootropic agent.
- 2014Human study
Phenazepam comparison study
Medvedev et al. (n=60) show Selank has comparable anxiolytic effects to phenazepam with superior tolerability — no sedation, no withdrawal, sustained effect after discontinuation.
- 2015Human study
Combination therapy study
Medvedev et al. (n=70) demonstrate that adding Selank to phenazepam reduces benzodiazepine side effects while maintaining efficacy.
- 2016Preclinical
GABAergic gene expression mapped
Volkova et al. publish in Frontiers in Pharmacology (Western journal) showing Selank affects 45 of 84 GABAergic genes in rat frontal cortex.
- 2018Milestone
Comprehensive mechanism review
Seredenin et al. publish the most detailed review of Selank's molecular mechanisms, confirming GABA allosteric modulation as a primary mechanism.
- 2019Preclinical
BDNF and memory protection
Klimova et al. show Selank prevents ethanol-induced memory impairment via BDNF regulation in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
Human clinical trials
The human evidence for Selank consists of three clinical studies conducted in Russia with a combined total of approximately 150 participants. By Western standards, these are small, open-label studies — but they represent significantly more clinical data than most non-approved peptides have.
Selank vs medazepam for GAD and neurasthenia
Generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia
Anxiolytic effects similar to medazepam (benzodiazepine). Selank also showed antiasthenic and psychostimulant effects not seen with medazepam. Increased leu-enkephalin levels correlated with anxiety improvement. No sedation or dependence.
Selank vs phenazepam for anxiety disorders
Phobic-anxiety and somatoform disorders
Comparable anxiolytic effects with mild nootropic benefit. Anxiolytic effect persisted for a week after stopping the peptide — unlike phenazepam, where anxiety rapidly returned. No objectionable side effects. Improved quality of life.
Selank + phenazepam combination therapy
Anxiety-phobic, hypochondriac, and somatoform disorders
Adding Selank to phenazepam reduced benzodiazepine side effects (memory impairment, sedation, emotional indifference, sexual disturbances) during treatment and after withdrawal. Earlier onset of therapeutic effect.
All three studies were conducted by Russian research teams and published in the same Russian-language journal (Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova). None were placebo-controlled — they compared Selank directly to benzodiazepines. There are no registered trials on ClinicalTrials.gov.
About open-label comparisons: These studies compared Selank to active controls (benzodiazepines) rather than placebo. This can demonstrate comparable efficacy to an established drug but cannot determine absolute efficacy (how much of the effect is due to the drug vs other factors). The Russian regulatory system accepted this evidence for approval — Western agencies like the FDA would typically require placebo-controlled data.
Animal studies
The preclinical evidence base includes over 30 published studies, primarily from the Institute of Molecular Genetics and affiliated Russian institutions. Key areas of investigation include anxiolytic behavior, GABA system modulation, monoamine neurotransmitter metabolism, BDNF expression, and immunomodulatory effects.
Key findings by area
- Anxiolytic effects: Consistent reduction in anxiety-related behaviors across multiple models (elevated plus maze, social interaction, conditioned avoidance). Selank's anxiolytic potency is comparable to low-dose benzodiazepines in animal behavioral tests.[2]
- GABA system: Selank affects expression of 45 of 84 GABAergic neurotransmission genes in rat frontal cortex within 1 hour of administration. In cell culture, Selank modulates GABA-induced gene expression changes without having direct effects alone — supporting the allosteric modulation hypothesis.[11][12]
- Enkephalin system: Dose-dependent inhibition of enkephalin-degrading enzymes (IC50 15 microM), more potent than classical peptidase inhibitors bacitracin and puromycin.[1]
- Monoamines: Strain-dependent changes in serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels across brain regions including hippocampus, hypothalamus, striatum, and frontal cortex.[6]
- BDNF: Rapid upregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus after intranasal administration. Protection against ethanol-induced memory impairment via BDNF regulation.[5][14]
- Immunomodulatory: Modulation of inflammation-related gene expression in spleen. Antiviral activity against influenza virus via interferon-alpha induction in one study.[7][8]
The Russian-institution concentration: Similar to BPC-157's reliance on the Zagreb lab, most Selank research comes from a cluster of affiliated Russian institutions. A few studies have been published in Western journals (notably Volkova 2016 and Filatova 2017 in Frontiers in Pharmacology), but independent Western replication remains minimal.
What the evidence shows
People come to Selank primarily for anxiety management and cognitive support. Here's what the published research actually tells us about the most common areas of interest:
Does Selank reduce anxiety?
Three Russian clinical studies (~150 total participants) show anxiolytic effects comparable to benzodiazepines (medazepam, phenazepam) without sedation, dependence, or withdrawal. Effects persisted after discontinuation. Mechanism involves GABA allosteric modulation and enkephalin system regulation. No placebo-controlled RCTs exist.
Does Selank enhance cognitive function?
Animal studies show Selank activates learning in rats with initially poor learning ability and prevents ethanol-induced memory impairment via BDNF regulation. Human studies noted mild nootropic effects alongside anxiolysis. No dedicated human cognitive trials exist.
Does Selank modulate the immune system?
Selank is derived from tuftsin, a known immunomodulatory peptide. Human data shows changes in Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and IL-6 regulation in patients with anxiety disorders. Animal studies demonstrate antiviral activity against influenza via interferon-alpha induction. Limited to small studies.
Does Selank increase BDNF?
Two animal studies demonstrate that intranasal Selank rapidly elevates BDNF expression in the rat hippocampus. In an ethanol model, Selank regulated BDNF content in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex while preventing memory impairment. No human BDNF data exists.
Is Selank safer than benzodiazepines?
Head-to-head clinical comparisons show comparable anxiolytic efficacy with significantly fewer side effects. No sedation, muscle relaxation, tolerance, or withdrawal syndrome observed with Selank. Clinical use in Russia since 2009 with no reported serious adverse events. However, long-term safety data is limited to Russian clinical practice.
Does Selank have antiviral properties?
One animal study showed Selank completely suppressed influenza virus reproduction in cell culture when administered 24 hours before inoculation and improved survival in mice. Mechanism involves interferon-alpha induction. Only a single study — not replicated.
Safety & side effects
What research shows
Selank has a notably clean safety profile compared to both benzodiazepines and most non-approved peptides. In the three published clinical studies, no serious adverse events were reported. Head-to-head comparisons with phenazepam specifically highlighted Selank's superior tolerability — no sedation, no muscle relaxation, no tolerance development, no withdrawal syndrome, and no memory impairment.[9]
The 2015 combination study showed that adding Selank to phenazepam actually reduced the benzodiazepine's side effects, including memory impairment, sedation, emotional indifference, and sexual disturbances.[10]
Selank has been in clinical use in Russia since 2009, which provides a larger safety dataset than most non-approved peptides — though this data is not captured in Western pharmacovigilance systems.
Reported side effects
From published clinical data and clinical use:
- Mild headache
- Nasal irritation (with intranasal use)
- Sore throat
- Mild nausea
- Mild dizziness
- Rare: allergic reactions (skin rash, itching)
These are generally mild and transient. The absence of sedation and dependence is the most significant safety distinction from benzodiazepines.
What we don't know
Limitations of the safety data: While Selank's safety profile appears favorable, the data has important gaps. There is no long-term safety data from controlled Western studies. No safety information exists for use during pregnancy, lactation, or in children. The immunomodulatory properties (as a tuftsin derivative) raise theoretical questions about effects in autoimmune conditions, though no adverse immunological effects have been reported. Russian pharmacovigilance data is not publicly available in international databases.
Contraindications and interactions
Known contraindications (from Russian prescribing information):
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding (no safety data)
- Children under 18 (no pediatric data)
- Known hypersensitivity to Selank or excipients
Theoretical concerns (based on mechanism of action):
- Autoimmune conditions (given immunomodulatory properties via tuftsin pathway)
- Concurrent use with benzodiazepines (potential additive GABA effects, though the 2015 combination study showed this was actually beneficial)
Drug interactions: No formal interaction studies in humans. The 2015 Medvedev study suggests Selank may be safely combined with phenazepam, actually reducing its side effects. Theoretical interactions exist with other GABAergic drugs.
How people use it
Selank is most commonly discussed in the context of anxiety management, cognitive enhancement, and as an alternative to benzodiazepines.
Administration routes
- Intranasal (primary route): The approved formulation in Russia is a 0.15% nasal spray solution. This is the route used in all clinical studies and is considered the standard method of administration.
- Subcutaneous injection: Some users outside Russia use injectable forms, though this was not the route studied in clinical trials.
About dosing information: Specific dosing ranges are not published on Peptide Garden pending legal review. In Russia, Selank is prescribed as a nasal spray with dosing determined by a physician. If you're considering Selank, the right first step is a conversation with a knowledgeable healthcare provider.
Common stacking context
In community practice, Selank is often discussed alongside:
- Selank + Semax — The two major Russian nootropic peptides are sometimes used together: Selank for its anxiolytic/calming effects and semax for its stimulating/cognitive effects. No controlled studies support this combination.
- Selank + BPC-157 — Discussed in community forums for combined neurological and gut support. No clinical data.
All stacking protocols are community-derived and have not been studied in any controlled setting.
Legal & regulatory status
As of March 2026:
Russian Federation
Selank is an approved medicine in Russia, registered by the Ministry of Health in 2009. It is classified as an anxiolytic and nootropic agent and is available as a prescription nasal spray (0.15% solution). It has been in clinical use for over 15 years.
United States (FDA)
Selank is not FDA-approved for any indication. It has not been submitted for FDA review, and no clinical trials have been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. It is not classified as a dietary supplement. It is available as a "research chemical" but is not legally marketed for human use.
European Union
Selank is not approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or any EU member state regulatory body.
WADA / USADA
Selank is not specifically named on the WADA Prohibited List. However, in countries where Selank is not an approved medicine, it could potentially fall under Section S0 (Non-Approved Substances), which prohibits "any pharmacological substance which is not addressed by any of the subsequent sections of the List and with no current approval by any governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use." Athletes should exercise caution and consult with anti-doping authorities.
The unique regulatory position: Selank is one of the few peptides that is genuinely approved somewhere — making its regulatory story more nuanced than most. Russian approval carries legal weight within Russia, but it does not translate to legal status in Western countries. The clinical evidence used for Russian approval would not meet FDA or EMA approval standards without additional placebo-controlled trials.
How Selank compares
To understand Selank's evidence position, here's how it compares to both a related Russian peptide and Western anxiolytics:
Selank
Approved in Russia · Not FDA-approved
Total studies
30+
Human trials
3
Approved
Russia
First studied
1990s
Diazepam (Valium)
FDA-approved · Schedule IV
Total studies
10,000+
Human trials
Thousands
Approved
Worldwide
First studied
1963
The contrast is instructive. Benzodiazepines like diazepam have been studied for 60+ years with extensive worldwide clinical data — but they carry well-documented risks of dependence, withdrawal, and cognitive impairment. Selank's clinical data suggests it may offer comparable anxiolytic effects without these risks, but its evidence base is orders of magnitude smaller and has not been validated outside of Russian institutions.
This is the core question with Selank: is the absence of Western evidence a reflection of the drug's limitations, or simply a reflection of geopolitical barriers to international drug development?
Related content
Semax Peptide Profile
Selank's nootropic counterpart. Also developed in Russia with the same Pro-Gly-Pro stabilization tail, but targeting cognition and neuroprotection via the ACTH pathway.
GuideHow to Reconstitute Peptides
A clear, safety-first guide to preparing lyophilized peptides. Essential reading for anyone working with research peptides.
NewsKennedy Peptide Reclassification
Regulatory changes that could affect access to research peptides like Selank.
ToolReconstitution Calculator
Calculate exact syringe units for Selank preparation.
References
- [1]Kost NV, Sokolov OY, Kurasova OB, et al.. “The inhibitory effect of Selank on enkephalin-degrading enzymes as a possible mechanism of its anxiolytic activity.” Bull Exp Biol Med. 2001. 131(4):315–317 PubMedAnimal study
Foundational mechanistic study. Demonstrated dose-dependent enkephalinase inhibition (IC50 15 microM).
- [2]Kozlovskaya MM, Kozlovskii II, Val'dman EA, Seredenin SB. “The optimizing action of the synthetic peptide Selank on a conditioned active avoidance reflex in rats.” Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2003. 33(7):639–643 PubMedAnimal study
Showed learning activation in rats with initially poor ability. Single institution.
- [3]Zozulya AA, Sizov SV, Kost NV, et al.. “Efficacy and possible mechanisms of action of a new peptide anxiolytic selank in the therapy of generalized anxiety disorders and neurasthenia.” Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2008. 108(4):38–48 PubMedPilot study
Largest Selank clinical study (n=62). Open-label comparison with medazepam, no placebo control. Published in Russian-language journal.
- [4]Uchakina ON, Uchakin PN, Miasoedov NF, et al.. “Immunomodulatory effects of selank in patients with anxiety-asthenic disorders.” Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2008. 108(5):71–75 PubMedPilot study
Small clinical study documenting Th1/Th2 cytokine changes and IL-6 modulation. Published in Russian-language journal.
- [5]Inozemtseva LS, Karpenko EA, Dolotov OV, et al.. “Intranasal administration of the peptide Selank regulates BDNF expression in the rat hippocampus in vivo.” Dokl Biol Sci. 2008. 421:241–243 PubMedAnimal study
Key BDNF study. Showed rapid upregulation of BDNF in hippocampus after intranasal delivery.
- [6]Narkevich VB, Kudrin VS, Klodt PM, et al.. “Effects of heptapeptide selank on the content of monoamines and their metabolites in the brain of BALB/C and C57Bl/6 mice: a comparative study.” Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2008. 71(5):8–12 PubMedAnimal study
Documented strain-dependent monoamine changes in hippocampus, hypothalamus, striatum, and frontal cortex.
- [7]Ershov FI, Uchakin PN, Uchakina ON, et al.. “Antiviral activity of immunomodulator Selank in experimental influenza infection.” Vopr Virusol. 2009. 54(5):19–24 PubMedAnimal study
Single study showing influenza virus suppression and IFN-alpha induction. Not replicated.
- [8]Grivennikov IA, Dolotov OV, Zolotarev YA, et al.. “The temporary dynamics of inflammation-related genes expression under tuftsin analog Selank action.” Mol Immunol. 2014. 65(1):189–190 DOIAnimal study
Gene expression study in mouse spleen. Short communication format. Documents inflammation-related gene changes.
- [9]Medvedev VE, Tereshchenko ON, Kost NV, et al.. “A comparison of the anxiolytic effect and tolerability of selank and phenazepam in the treatment of anxiety disorders.” Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2014. 114(7):17–22 PubMedPilot study
60 patients. Open-label comparison with phenazepam (benzodiazepine). Published in Russian-language journal. Key tolerability comparison.
- [10]Medvedev VE, Tereshchenko ON. “Optimization of the treatment of anxiety disorders with selank.” Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2015. 115(6):33–40 PubMedPilot study
70 patients. Showed adding Selank to phenazepam reduced benzodiazepine side effects. Published in Russian-language journal.
- [11]Volkova A, Shadrina M, Kolomin T, et al.. “Selank Administration Affects the Expression of Some Genes Involved in GABAergic Neurotransmission.” Front Pharmacol. 2016. 7:31 DOI PubMedAnimal study
Rat frontal cortex gene expression study. Significant changes in 45 of 84 GABAergic genes. Published in English in a Western journal.
- [12]Filatova EV, Kasian AP, Kolomin TA, et al.. “GABA, Selank, and Olanzapine Affect the Expression of Genes Involved in GABAergic Neurotransmission in IMR-32 Cells.” Front Pharmacol. 2017. 8:89 DOI PubMedIn vitro
Cell culture study. Selank alone had no direct gene expression effect but modulated GABA-induced changes. Supports allosteric modulation hypothesis.
- [13]Seredenin SB, Mezentseva MV, Kozlovskaya MM, et al.. “Peptide-based Anxiolytics: The Molecular Aspects of Heptapeptide Selank Biological Activity.” Protein Pept Lett. 2018. 25(10):914–923 PubMedReview
Comprehensive review from the original Selank developers. Summarizes molecular mechanisms including GABA allosteric modulation.
- [14]Klimova EU, Kovalenko LP, Kulikova OI, et al.. “Selank, Peptide Analogue of Tuftsin, Protects Against Ethanol-Induced Memory Impairment by Regulating of BDNF Content in the Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex in Rats.” Bull Exp Biol Med. 2019. 167(5):641–644 PubMedAnimal study
Showed cognitive-stimulating effect and BDNF regulation in ethanol model. Single institution.
Medical disclaimer
Peptide Garden is an educational resource, not a medical provider. The information on this page is compiled from published research and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Selank is approved in Russia but is not FDA-approved or approved by any Western regulatory agency for any indication. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about peptide therapy.