Selank
Also known as: Selanc · Selank Acetate · Тuftsin analog TP-7
Selank is a Russian-developed synthetic analog of tuftsin, a naturally-occurring immunomodulatory tetrapeptide. Used as an anxiolytic and mild cognitive support, often paired with semax. Approved for medical use in Russia (Pharmasynthez); not approved elsewhere.
Last reviewed · Panya.health editorial
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Not medical advice. Selank is not approved for human medical use in most jurisdictions. The data below is what users do; it is not what regulators have validated. You decide your risk profile.
What it does, and how
Selank is a heptapeptide (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) derived from tuftsin, an endogenous tetrapeptide originally identified for immunomodulatory activity. The proline-glycine-proline tail extends the half-life and shifts the activity profile from purely-immune toward central-nervous-system effects, particularly anxiolysis. Mechanism research from Semenova's group at the Russian Academy of Sciences and others suggests selank modulates GABAergic transmission in the limbic system and influences serotonin metabolism, with effects on monoamine oxidase activity and BDNF expression. Russian Phase 2/3 trials in generalized anxiety disorder showed efficacy comparable to medazepam (a benzodiazepine) without sedation or cognitive impairment. The compound is approved in Russia for anxiety disorders under the brand Selank (Pharmasynthez); Western regulatory bodies have not evaluated it. Most published mechanism work is in Russian journals or Russian-affiliated English publications, which limits how much Western clinicians can independently verify. The community framing as a benzodiazepine alternative without dependency liability is plausible but not Western-validated.
Typical practice
Approved Russian Selank protocol: nasal spray, 0.15 percent solution, 3 drops per nostril 2 to 3 times daily for 14 to 30 days. Off-label community practice: 250 to 500 mcg subcutaneous once or twice daily, or intranasal at the Russian-protocol dose. Effects begin within 30 to 60 minutes and last 4 to 8 hours per session-dose; cumulative effect develops over 2 to 4 weeks of daily use. Reconstitution: 5 mg vial in 5 mL bacteriostatic water for 1 mg/mL concentration; intranasal users sometimes formulate in saline for spray application. Often paired with semax (the related Russian peptide for cognitive activation); the convention is semax in the morning, selank in the evening or as needed.
The dosing above is community practice, not a regulator-validated protocol. Trial-validated dosing for Selank in humans does not exist for most use cases listed.
Risks and contraindications
Russian trial data and post-marketing reports show a clean safety profile: occasional mild nasal irritation (with intranasal use), rare reports of headache. No dependency or withdrawal pattern in 30+ years of Russian clinical use. The mechanism may interact with antidepressants (particularly MAO inhibitors) given the monoamine oxidase modulation; users on SSRIs or MAOIs should consult prescribing physician before adding. Pregnancy and breastfeeding off-limits by default. The honest read on Western evidence: Russian trial data is real but the regulatory rigor is different from FDA / EMA standards, and the publication record is harder for Western clinicians to independently verify. The downside risk appears genuinely low based on the available data; the upside claim of 'benzodiazepine alternative without dependency' is plausible but not Western-validated.
Where this stands legally
Not FDA-approved. Sold legally as a research chemical 'not for human consumption.'
Not a controlled substance. MHRA does not regulate research peptides.
Not on EMA's approved list. Treated as research chemical in member states. Russian-imported Selank brand product is occasionally available through specialty channels.
TGA Schedule 4 by default for unapproved peptides.
Not formally scheduled. Available through research-peptide channels and a small number of nootropic-leaning clinics.
MOHAP treats unapproved peptides as prescription-only by default.
Where users say they source it
Names below are sourced from community discussion. None are currently scored against the Panya 11-signal rubric. Panya does not earn commission on any of these. You can search them yourself; treat the list as a starting point for your own diligence, not an endorsement.
- Pharmasynthez Selank (the Russian-approved brand, available in Russia and CIS)Pending Panya 11-signal audit
- Cosmic Nootropic (Russian-sourced, ships internationally)Pending Panya 11-signal audit
- Pure RawzPending Panya 11-signal audit
- Limitless LifePending Panya 11-signal audit
- AminolabsPending Panya 11-signal audit
Full vendor scorecards for Selank land in a follow-up sprint after lawyer review and payment processor selection. We will not route users to any vendor that scores below 70 on the rubric.
Papers worth reading directly
- Zozulia et al. — The efficacy of selank in the therapy of generalized anxiety disorders and neurasthenia. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova, 2008 (Russian primary literature) →
- Medvedev et al. — The effects of selank on the pituitary-adrenocortical axis and stress response. Bull Exp Biol Med, 2015 →
- Kost et al. — Selank, a peptide drug with anti-anxiety and nootropic activity: pharmacological and clinical research review. Eksp Klin Farmakol, 2016 →
- Semenova et al. — Behavioral effects of selank and its analogs. Neurosci Behav Physiol, 2010 →
Panya blog posts
The phrase on every grey-market peptide site. What it actually means, what it does not mean, and why reading it wrong costs people money.
The clinic route costs more and takes longer. The research-chem route puts more on you. Neither is wrong. Here is how to choose.
Adjacent reading
Track Selank in your peptide journal.
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