mixedAnecdotalMay 3, 2026
Anxiety and focus anecdotes
Selank sentiment tends to cluster around anxiety, focus, and subtle-effect reports, with less mainstream attention than GLP-1 or healing peptides.
Reddit / searchlow confidencereddit
Source Selank
TP-7 · Selanc
CognitiveNot ApprovedApprovedResearchIntranasalSubQ
Popular for:Anxiety reduction, cognitive enhancement, immune modulation
2
Registered Trials
3
Trial Publications
68
PubMed References
Approved
Evidence Level
Overview
Selank (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro / TKPRPGP) is a synthetic heptapeptide developed by the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The short version: people usually care about it for anxiety reduction, cognitive enhancement, immune modulation, but the strength of the evidence depends heavily on indication and study type.
Selank (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro / TKPRPGP) is a synthetic heptapeptide developed by the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is a synthetic analogue of the naturally occurring immunomodulatory peptide tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg), with the addition of a C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro tripeptide sequence that enhances metabolic stability and resistance to enzymatic degradation.
Selank is approved as a prescription drug in Russia for anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder. It is administered intranasally as a 0.15% solution.
Research Snapshot
What the evidence says
ApprovedSelank currently shows 2 registered trials from ClinicalTrials.gov, 3 PubMed trial publications (2 RCT-tagged), and 68 PubMed references matching the stored source query. Treat PubMed references as literature surface area, not a count of clinical trials.
Known vs uncertain
Known signals
- 2 registered trials are tracked from ClinicalTrials.gov intervention records.
- 3 PubMed clinical-trial publications are indexed.
- 2 PubMed randomized controlled trial publications are indexed.
- 68 PubMed references are tracked separately from trial counts and can include animal, in-vitro, review, mechanism, or clinical records.
Open questions
- Evidence strength may vary by indication, route, formulation, and population.
- Public anecdotes can highlight interest or concern but do not establish clinical efficacy.
- Regulatory status and compounding access can change independently from the research literature.
Mechanism of Action
Selank modulates the GABAergic system, enhancing GABA receptor sensitivity and influencing serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine metabolism.
Key Research Benefits
Anxiolytic effects: Demonstrated anxiolytic activity comparable to benzodiazepines in animal models without sedation or dependence. Enhances the anxiolytic effect of diazepam when co-administered (Semenova et al., 2017, PMC 5322660).
Cognitive enhancement: Significantly activated learning processes in rats with initially poor learning ability after just one dose (Semenova et al., 2003). BDNF upregulation supports neuroplasticity.
Immunomodulation: As a tuftsin analogue, Selank modulates immune function — influences T-helper cell balance, IL-6, and monocyte activity. May be beneficial in inflammatory conditions.
Neuroprotection: BDNF upregulation and enkephalin stabilization provide neuroprotective effects. Potential application in neurodegenerative conditions (research stage).
No sedation or dependence: Unlike benzodiazepines, Selank does not cause sedation, motor impairment, tolerance, or withdrawal symptoms.
Clinical Evidence Summary
Research Pipeline
Preclinical
Animal
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Approved
International Regulatory Status
🇷🇺
2
Registered Trials
3
Trial Publications
2
RCT Publications
68
PubMed References
ClinicalTrials.govPubMed ESearchExact-name queryChecked May 3, 2026
Registered trials are ClinicalTrials.gov intervention records. Trial publications are PubMed records tagged as clinical trials or randomized controlled trials. PubMed references are broader source-query matches and can include animal studies, in-vitro work, reviews, mechanism papers, and trial publications.
2
Registered trials
3
Trial publications
2
RCT publications
68
PubMed references
3
Reviews
0
Meta-analyses
Registered trials source
Jun 1, 2026
Selank
Uses the exact compound name as a ClinicalTrials.gov intervention query.
View source- Semenova et al. (2017) — 'Peptide Selank Enhances the Effect of Diazepam in Reducing Anxiety in Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Conditions in Rats' (PMC 5322660). Demonstrated synergistic anxiolytic effects with diazepam at 300 mcg/kg intranasal.
- Semenova et al. (2003) — Demonstrated Selank significantly activated learning processes in rats with initially poor learning ability after a single dose.
- Multiple studies from the Institute of Molecular Genetics (Moscow) confirming anxiolytic, nootropic, and immunomodulatory effects.
- **Limitation: **The majority of Selank research originates from Russian institutions. Limited Western peer-reviewed validation. No Phase III equivalent trials by Western regulatory standards.
Key PubMed References
68 PubMed references · showing top 25 by relevance
View all on PubMedTherapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions.
Review
Rahman OF, Lee SJ, Seeds WA · Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2026
PMID: 41490200The Influence of Selank on the Level of Cytokines Under the Conditions of "Social" Stress.
In Vitro
Leonidovna YA, Aleksandrovna SM, Aleksandrovna TA, et al. · Current reviews in clinical and experimental pharmacology · 2021
PMID: 32621722Morphological Changes in the Large Intestine of Rats Subjected to Chronic Restraint Stress and Treated with Selank.
In Vitro
Mukhina AY, Mishina ES, Bobyntsev II, et al. · Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine · 2020
PMID: 32651826Functional Connectomic Approach to Studying Selank and Semax Effects.
Human Study
Panikratova YR, Lebedeva IS, Sokolov OY, et al. · Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections · 2020
PMID: 32342318Effect of Selank on Morphological Parameters of Rat Liver in Chronic Foot-Shock Stress.
Animal Study
Fomenko EV, Bobyntsev II, Ivanov AV, et al. · Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine · 2019
PMID: 31243679Anecdotes & Sentiment
Public discussion, not clinical evidence
This section summarizes what people are talking about in public sources. It can be useful for spotting questions, hype cycles, and recurring concerns, but it is separate from the evidence sections above.
Side Effects & Safety
- **Common: **Generally very well tolerated.
Common: Generally very well tolerated. Mild fatigue reported by some users. Occasional nasal irritation with intranasal use.
Rare: No serious adverse effects have been reported in the available literature. However, the evidence base is predominantly from Russian research institutions, limiting external validation.
Contraindications: Pregnancy, lactation. Caution with autoimmune conditions (due to immunomodulatory effects). Caution when combining with other GABAergic drugs (benzodiazepines, barbiturates).
Drug interactions: May potentiate the effects of benzodiazepines (shown to enhance diazepam anxiolytic effects). Use caution with CNS depressants.
Known Interactions
No curated interaction entry is live for Selank yet.
Until the interaction table is fully populated, use the interaction checker and related peptides below to explore adjacent compounds and likely research pairings.
Comparison Pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Research Disclaimer
This page is for research and educational purposes only. The information presented is based on published scientific literature and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Regulatory status can vary by compound, formulation, indication, and jurisdiction. Check official labeling, registry records, and qualified professional guidance before making any health-related decision. The studies referenced are linked to their original PubMed sources for verification.