Mind & mood

Semax

Name: Semax: uses, evidence and safety
Creator: Cited Peptides Editorial

Focus, memory and stroke recovery. Developed in Russia and used there as a medicine.

By Cited Peptides Editorial Updated 2026-10-10 Medical review pending

This page has not yet been reviewed by a credentialed medical professional. It is educational and is not medical advice.

Semax: key facts

Evidence level Human trials
Approved as a medicineYes: Approved in Russia; not authorized in the US or Canada
Randomized trials on PubMed1
Papers on PubMed208
Trials testing it (ClinicalTrials.gov)None found
In tested sportCheck the current WADA Prohibited List

In one sentence: Semax is an approved medicine in some form (approved in Russia; not authorized in the US or Canada). Its strongest evidence is human trials, with 1 randomized trial on PubMed that mention it.

What the evidence says

Human studies exist, mostly from Russia and of mixed quality. Not approved in the US or Canada.

Key studies

Randomized trials Listed on PubMed as randomized trials that mention it. Some only measure it rather than test it as a treatment.

Comparative Study, English Abstract2007 [The study of chronic partial denervation and quality of life in patients with motor neuron disease treated with semax] Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova PMID 18379501 →

Reviews Summaries of other studies.

Review2026 Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev PMID 41490200 → Review2026 Therapeutic peptides in gerontology: mechanisms and applications for healthy aging Front Aging PMID 42021992 → Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review2018 Pharmacological Aspects of Neuro-Immune Interactions Curr Pharm Des PMID 28875850 → Review2016 [POSSIBLE ROLE OF TRANSTHYRETIN IN THE BIOLOGICAL MECHANISM OF THE REGULATORY PEPTIDE NEUROPROTECTION.] Mol Gen Mikrobiol Virusol PMID 30383932 →

Other notable papers The most relevant other papers on PubMed.

2020 Functional Connectomic Approach to Studying Selank and Semax Effects Dokl Biol Sci PMID 32342318 → 2025 Semax peptide targets the μ opioid receptor gene Oprm1 to promote deubiquitination and functional recovery after spinal cord injury in female mice Br J Pharmacol PMID 40692165 → 2024 ACTH-like Peptides Compensate Rat Brain Gene Expression Profile Disrupted by Ischemia a Day After Experimental Stroke Biomedicines PMID 39767736 → 2025 The Potential of the Peptide Drug Semax and Its Derivative for Correcting Pathological Impairments in the Animal Model of Alzheimer's Disease Acta Naturae PMID 41479572 →

See its full evidence profile and newest papers →

Clinical trials

No registered trials list Semax as a treatment.

That usually means it hasn't been properly tested in people.

Search all trials live →

Where it fits

GoalPeptides for brain & focus ComparisonSemax vs Selank

Common questions

Is Semax approved?

Approved in Russia; not authorized in the US or Canada.

Has Semax been tested in people?

1 randomized trial on PubMed mention it. Human studies exist, mostly from Russia and of mixed quality. Not approved in the US or Canada.

Is Semax allowed in sport?

Check the current WADA Prohibited List; unapproved substances can be banned under its catch-all category.

This is a short, data-driven profile. Study and trial lists come from PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov and are refreshed periodically. "What people use it for" describes common claims, not recommendations. Educational only, not medical advice.