Semax

ID: semax

Aliases: ACTH(4-10) analog, MEHFPGP, Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro, SEMAX

Type: compound

Route/form: intranasal in regional clinical/research literature; formulation varies by study and region

Status: regional_or_research

Evidence level: early human

Best data tier: early human

Support scope: human, non-human/mechanistic

Source types: human_trial, preclinical

Linked sources: 4

Broad outcomes: Brain / mood / sleep

Reading note: These are curation notes anchored to linked sources, not a clinical recommendation or protocol.

Targets / mechanism

• ACTH(4-10)-derived peptide signaling
• BDNF/trkB pathway hypotheses
• neuroprotection hypotheses

Optimization domains

• cognition
• stroke
• neuroprotection
• BDNF
• nootropic
• CNS

Research basis

• Regional clinical stroke literature and preclinical BDNF/neuroprotection work explain why Semax is discussed as a nootropic/neuroprotective peptide.
• It is a distinct ACTH-fragment analog, not interchangeable with Selank despite both being Russian-developed intranasal peptides.

Limits, risks, and missing evidence

• Healthy-human cognitive enhancement evidence is weak compared with the stroke/preclinical evidence base.

Risk flags

• regional evidence
• limited human data
• CNS
• intranasal delivery uncertainty
• unapproved context

Linked papers, labels, and reviews

1. The efficacy of Semax in the treatment of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke
   human_trial / pubmed_semax_rehab_2018
   Russian clinical trial in ischemic stroke/rehabilitation with BDNF-related endpoints.
2. The heptapeptide Semax stimulates BDNF expression in different areas of the rat brain in vivo
   preclinical / pubmed_semax_bdnf_2003
   Rat BDNF-expression source for Semax neurotrophin rationale.
3. Semax, an analog of ACTH(4-7), regulates expression of immune response genes during ischemic brain injury in rats
   preclinical / pubmed_semax_ischemia_genes_2017
   Rat focal-cerebral-ischemia transcriptome study supporting Semax neuroprotection/inflammation pathway rationale.
4. Semax, synthetic ACTH(4-10) analogue, attenuates behavioural and neurochemical alterations following early-life fluvoxamine exposure in white rats
   preclinical / pubmed_semax_cns_review_2021
   Rat neurochemical/behavioral study providing additional Semax CNS mechanism context; not healthy-human nootropic evidence.