SEMAX
A lab-made 7-block peptide based on a piece of the stress hormone ACTH. Studied for the brain.
What it's made of
M E H F P G P. The first 4 blocks come from ACTH. The last 3 (P G P) were added to make it last longer.
Load it in the Peptide builder →Where it comes from
Developed in Russia. Built from a short piece of ACTH, a hormone your body uses in the stress response.
What it's studied for
- ◐ Reported
Stroke recovery: small Russian studies reported better recovery. Most were not randomized and had no placebo group.
- ○ Animal / lab only
Brain growth signals: in animal studies it raised BDNF, a protein that helps brain cells grow and connect.
- ◐ Reported
Attention and memory in healthy people: one small study of 19 men in 1996. Two later studies gave Semax to 14 healthy people each and only measured brain scans.
Studied for ≠ proven to work. Check the stamp.
What we don't know
- ?
Almost all the human research comes from Russia, and much of it is not in English.
- ?
I found no large randomized trial and no systematic review.
- ?
Long-term effects are unknown.
Status
- Approved as a medicine in Russia.
- Not approved in the US or Vietnam.
