Emerging evidence · Grade B
Selank
Selank (TP-7)
Score
62 / 100
Origin
Russia (tuftsin)
Route
Intranasal
Status
Rx in Russia; investigational elsewhere
TL;DR
01
A synthetic analog of the immune peptide tuftsin, developed in Russia and used there as an intranasal anti-anxiety (anxiolytic) agent.
02
It is prescribed in Russia for generalized anxiety, but like semax its clinical evidence is almost entirely Russian and not replicated in large international trials.
03
In animals it modulates brain gene expression and neurotransmitter systems (including GABA and serotonin pathways) linked to anxiety and cognition.
04
It is not FDA- or EMA-approved; outside Russia it is a research chemical with no quality guarantees.
05
The fair read: a plausible anxiolytic with real use abroad but thin international evidence.
Russian clinical use
Yes
anxiety (approved)
Western RCTs
Limited
not independently replicated at scale
Mechanism
GABA/serotonin modulation
shown in animals
FDA / EMA
Not approved
no Western approval
Outside Russia
Research chemical
unregulated
Part 01 · How it works
Mechanism.
Selank is a short peptide based on tuftsin, an immune-signaling molecule, engineered for stability and given as a nasal spray. In Russia it's prescribed for anxiety. Animal studies suggest it influences brain systems tied to mood and calm — GABA and serotonin signaling — and can shift the expression of stress-related genes, without the sedation or dependence of benzodiazepines. As with semax, the mechanism is reasonable and it's used clinically abroad, but the human evidence is mostly Russian and not confirmed by large independent trials.
A nasal-spray attempt at calm without the grogginess or dependence of classic anti-anxiety drugs — plausible and prescribed in Russia, but under-proven internationally.
Tuftsin analog
Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro; a stabilized tuftsin-derived heptapeptide with anxiolytic/immunomodulatory activity.
Neurotransmitter modulation
Animal data suggest effects on GABAergic and serotonergic systems and on stress-related gene expression.
Intranasal delivery
Given as nasal drops for CNS exposure; short-acting.
Evidence stage
Russian clinical use; animal mechanism; limited international RCTs.
Part 02 · Dosing & administration
How it's taken.
Community-reported · unregulatedValues below reflect commonly reported community protocols for Selank. These are anecdotal and unregulated — not clinically validated and not a recommendation. Provided for educational purposes only — this is not medical advice and not instructions for self-administration. Consult your healthcare provider before making any health decision.
Standard dose
250-500 mcg
Intranasal (original, most-studied route); subcutaneous used by some · 2–3x daily intranasal (SC: 2–3 days/week)
Duration
~14-day intranasal course; SC often cycled 8 weeks on / 8 off
·
Russian clinical intranasal protocols used ~250–300 mcg three times daily for 14 days — consistent with the 250–500 mcg range shown.
·
Approved in Russia as an anxiolytic/nootropic, but the dose is not internationally standardized or FDA-labeled; the injectable ~1 mg SC route is a community adaptation.
·
Short-acting; outside Russia it is an unregulated research chemical with no purity/dose guarantee.
Need help with reconstitution?
Use the free peptide calculator for dilution, unit conversion, and injection volume.
Part 03 · Safety
Side effects, rare serious events, who shouldn't.
Common
Nasal irritation
From intranasal use.
Occasional
Mild fatigue
Reported; generally mild.
Occasional
Serious · rare
Long-term international safety
Russian use but limited independent long-term data.
Limited data
Product-quality risk
Research-chemical supply outside Russia may not match labeled purity/dose.
Source-dependent
Absolute · do not use
×
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
×
Children under 18
×
Known hypersensitivity to selank, tuftsin, or any component
×
Active bleeding disorders (selank is derived from tuftsin which may affect immune/coagulation pathways)
Relative · discuss first
!
Pregnancy or breastfeeding — insufficient data
!
Serious anxiety/psychiatric conditions relying on it in place of evidence-based care
!
Anyone needing internationally validated efficacy — it is not established
Interactions
Benzodiazepines
Selank has anxiolytic GABAergic activity; additive sedation and anxiolytic effects
Moderate
SSRIs/SNRIs
Selank modulates serotonin metabolism; may potentiate serotonergic effects
Moderate
Anticoagulants
Selank derives from tuftsin (immunoglobulin fragment); theoretical effect on coagulation pathways
Minor
Immunomodulators
Selank enhances innate immune function via tuftsin activity; may interact with immune-modulating therapies
Moderate
Labs to monitor
CBC with Differential
Baseline and every 3 months
Immunomodulatory effects — monitor immune parameters
CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel)
Baseline and every 3 months
Liver and kidney function
Cortisol (AM)
Baseline and at 4 weeks
Anxiolytic effects may reflect HPA axis modulation
Immunoglobulin Levels (IgG, IgA, IgM)
Baseline and at end of cycle
Selank affects immune function and Ig production
Part 04 · Evidence
How strong is the evidence?
62
Grade B
Grade B, Emerging. Selank has genuine anxiolytic use in Russia and a plausible mechanism, but the evidence is thin outside Russia — small, largely domestic trials, no independent large-scale replication, and no Western approval.
Mechanistic plausibility
Reasonable GABA/serotonin-linked anxiolytic mechanism in animal work.
72
Human evidence
Russian clinical use and trials; limited independent international replication.
52
Safety & tolerability
Reported non-sedating and non-dependence-forming; long-term international data limited.
74
Durability
Short-acting; durability not established internationally.
55
Independence
Evidence concentrated in Russian institutions.
50
Part 05 · Research log
Every study we cite.
We list each study with its methodology, funding source, and our quality grade. Flagged studies aren't dismissed — they're tagged so you can weigh them.
01
2013
Zh Vyssh Nerv Deiat Flagged
Transcriptome alteration in hippocampus under Selank treatment
Single and repeated intranasal Selank altered expression of membrane/ion-homeostasis genes in the rat hippocampus, consistent with modulation of learning/memory-related processes.
Rodent transcriptomic study · Animal mechanism study; does not establish human efficacy.
PMID 24450168 ↗
Moderate (preclinical)
Evidence against
What didn't work, and where the evidence is thin.
Every publication is incentivized to tell you a peptide works. We catalogue the null results, failed trials, and mechanism limits we found in the same literature — so you can weigh them against the upside, with your provider.
01
Anxiolytic use rests on largely Russian, under-replicated evidence
Mechanism limit international evidence base · 2013
Selank's anxiety evidence comes mostly from Russian studies without large independent international replication; the mechanistic support is animal-based.
What this means: It may be a genuinely useful anxiolytic, but by international standards that remains unconfirmed. Do not treat it as an established anxiety treatment.
PMID 24450168 ↗
Part 06 · Cost & access
Where it's available, at what price.
Russia
Approved
Prescribed intranasal anxiolytic.
Russian market
United States
Not approved
Not FDA-approved; research chemical.
Grey-market; unregulated
European Union
Not approved
Not approved; research-chemical only.
N/A
United Kingdom
Not approved
Not approved; research-chemical only.
N/A
The Peptide Column takes no affiliate commission from any source. Selank is prescribed in Russia but not approved by the FDA or EMA; outside Russia it is an unregulated research chemical and its benefits are not established by international evidence. We link only to clinician-directed care, never to sellers.
Part 07 · Your appointment
Questions to bring.
01
What is the quality of evidence from Russian clinical studies of Selank?
02
How does Selank's anxiolytic effect compare to established anti-anxiety medications?
03
Are there drug interactions with my current medications?
04
What is the appropriate route of administration and dosing?
References
Every citation, numbered.
Citation list. For our editorial read of each study — including bias flags and quality grades — see the Research log above.
- 01. Transcriptome alteration in hippocampus under Selank treatment · Zh Vyssh Nerv Deiat, 2013 · PMID 24450168 ↗
- 02. PubMed. Selank mechanistic and Russian clinical literature