Evidence Grade C — Moderate human evidence. 68 published studies, 15 human. 2 registered clinical trials.
Medically reviewed by a licensed medical professional
Selank is a synthetic peptide developed in Russia, derived from a fragment of an immune system protein (tuftsin). It is used clinically in Russia as a nasal spray for anxiety-related conditions but has never been evaluated by the FDA, EMA, or other major Western regulatory agencies. The clinical evidence base is predominantly Russian-language.
Selank is also known by these brand and alternate names:
68 published studies: 15 human, 49 animal, 3 in-vitro, 3 reviews
Selank is approved in Russia for anxiety-related conditions. It has not been approved by the FDA, EMA, or other major Western regulatory agencies.
The key clinical study (62 patients) compared Selank to a benzodiazepine in generalised anxiety disorder and reported comparable effects. Published clinical studies are predominantly Russian and have not undergone Western regulatory review. The evidence base does not meet FDA or EMA approval standards. Its regulatory status is limited to Russia and certain former Soviet states.
Research suggests Selank may modulate GABAergic signalling pathways and influence gene expression related to neurotransmitter systems. These proposed mechanisms are based on animal studies and gene expression analyses. The evidence has not been evaluated through FDA or EMA regulatory review processes.
Research suggests the key clinical study (62 patients) compared Selank to a benzodiazepine for generalised anxiety disorder and reported comparable effects with notable advantages: no sedation, no tolerance, no dependence, and no withdrawal symptoms. However, this study is small by Western standards and may not have met modern double-blinding requirements. Only three published clinical studies are available on major databases, with the largest involving 70 patients. No head-to-head comparisons with first-line Western anxiolytics (SSRIs, buspirone) exist. A puzzling feature is the extremely short blood half-life (2 minutes) despite hours-long therapeutic effects — a disconnect that is mechanistically unexplained. Products from unregulated channels lack pharmaceutical quality assurance.
PeptideTrace tracks 2 registered clinical trials for Selank sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Comparing the Efficacy of tDCS and tRNS to Improve Reading Skills in Children and Adolescents With Dyslexia
Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Object Recognition
Selank is a synthetic analogue of tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg, an immunoglobulin G heavy chain fragment) with a Pro-Gly-Pro C-terminal extension. Its 7 amino acid sequence is Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro (TKPRPGP), with molecular formula C33H57N11O9 and molecular weight 751.87 Da (CAS: 129954-34-3). Developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with the V.V. Zakusov Research Institute of Pharmacology. Registered for medical use in Russia in 2009 for generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia. Plasma half-life is approximately 2 minutes with complete clearance within 10 minutes, yet research suggests therapeutic effects persist for hours. Intranasal bioavailability is reportedly 92.8%. The primary metabolite is tuftsin itself, which is pharmacologically active. Available as Selank 0.15% nasal drops in Russia. Not approved by the FDA, EMA, or MHRA.
Research suggests the primary anxiolytic mechanism involves GABAergic modulation. Volkova et al. (2016) found significant changes in expression of 45 genes at 1 hour and 22 genes at 3 hours after Selank administration, including GABA receptor subunits (Gabra6, Gabrb1, Gabrb3) and transporters. Positive correlation between Selank-induced and GABA-induced gene expression changes suggests similar mechanisms. Animal studies indicate Selank can compete for more than half of [3H]diazepam binding sites on brain cell membranes, though it produces no sedation, no muscle relaxation, no tolerance, and no dependence, which are key distinctions from benzodiazepines. The compound also inhibits enkephalin-degrading enzymes (IC50 = 10 uM); in high-anxiety BALB/c mice, this produced anxiolytic effects and increased leu-enkephalin half-life. As a tuftsin analogue, it retains immunomodulatory properties including modulation of IL-6 expression and Th1/Th2 cytokine balance. Research also suggests Selank elevates BDNF in the hippocampus.
The key clinical trial by Zozulia et al. (2008; N=62) compared Selank to the benzodiazepine medazepam in patients with GAD and neurasthenia, finding comparable anxiolytic efficacy with additional antiasthenic and psychostimulant effects. Siuniakov et al. (2014; N=70) showed that Selank combined with phenazepam achieved positive effects on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale earlier and decreased undesirable benzodiazepine side effects (sedation, attention impairment, sexual disturbances). In animal studies, research suggests Selank reduced total morphine withdrawal syndrome index by 39.6% (p < 0.0001). An fMRI study in 52 healthy participants revealed specific effects on functional connectivity between right amygdala and temporal cortex. No Western clinical trials have been conducted.
The information on this page is provided for educational and research reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health.
