Selank
Compound snapshot
Class
Research peptide
FDA approved
No
Clinical development
Preclinical
Last reviewed
September 2026
Research areas
Cognition / Mood / Neuroprotection
Regulatory status
Research use only — not approved outside Russia
Internet attention
Moderate
Registry query
Selank
A synthetic analogue of the immunomodulatory peptide tuftsin, developed alongside Semax and used in Russia as an anxiolytic.
Reality check — what we actually know
Supported by human evidence
- No adequately powered randomised human trials establish the outcomes this compound is marketed for.
Animal research only
- Anxiolytic effect without sedation or dependence in published Russian trials
- Stabilises mood and reduces stress-linked cognitive impairment
- Enhances the effect of, and reduces reliance on, benzodiazepines in clinical reports
Mechanistically plausible
- Modulates GABA-A expression and serotonin turnover, and raises BDNF — producing anti-anxiety effects without the sedation, tolerance or withdrawal typical of benzodiazepines.
Common internet claims
- Online discussion frequently presents Selank as a proven treatment rather than a research compound.
Not established
- Human efficacy for the outcomes commonly claimed
- Optimal route, quantity and duration in humans
- Long-term human safety
Evidence distribution
Each band is a live PubMed search for Selank, filtered to that kind of study. Top is the strongest evidence; the base is reasoning, not proof. A band with no records means that kind of study has not been published for this compound yet.
Mechanism and reported findings
Modulates GABA-A expression and serotonin turnover, and raises BDNF — producing anti-anxiety effects without the sedation, tolerance or withdrawal typical of benzodiazepines.
- Anxiolytic effect without sedation or dependence in published Russian trials
- Stabilises mood and reduces stress-linked cognitive impairment
- Enhances the effect of, and reduces reliance on, benzodiazepines in clinical reports
- Immunomodulatory activity inherited from tuftsin
Strength of the evidence: Same limitation as Semax — Russian registration and literature, no Western trials.
Safety and known cautions
No Western safety review. Interactions with psychiatric medication are unstudied.
Evidence at a glance
No single score, on purpose. The line beside each bar shows how much reported outcomes vary between studies.
Development stage
- Discovery
- PreclinicalCurrent
- Phase 1
- Phase 2
- Phase 3
- Regulatory review
- Approved