We use essential cookies (authentication, your saved goals/stack) by default. With your permission we'll also enable privacy-respecting analytics (Vercel Web Analytics, anonymous load-time metrics) and error-replay diagnostics (Sentry — DOM snapshots only when an error fires) so we can fix bugs faster. Learn more about cookies
Smx2.8
Semax Research
Mostly mechanism / observationalLimited safety
11 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Mostly mechanism / observational
Most Semax studies are mechanism or observational rather than RCTs that measure a clinical effect — keep findings provisional.
Most evidence is from mixed-quality studies published 2005–2025 with a typical study size of 52 participants.
Based on 11 studies · 186 total participants
Confidence
Low
By outcome
Stroke & neuroprotection
Mostly mechanism / observational7 studies
Cognitive function
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
Steady research
2 studies in the last 5 years
200520152025
1Open-Labeln=52 · small study2020
Post hoc analysis allowed us to define both general and specific effects of Selank and Semax on FC between the right amygdala and the right temporal cortex for the first time.
Panikratova YR, Lebedeva IS, Sokolov OY, Rumshiskaya AD, Kupriyanov DA, Kost NV. · Doklady biological sciences (2020)
Resting-state fMRI in 52 healthy participants, comparing intranasal selank, semax and placebo before and 5 and 20 min after injection
Focused on the amygdala (anxiety regulation) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (executive function)
Reported between-group and between-condition differences in functional connectivity between the right amygdala and right temporal regions
These findings indicate that the cognitive effects exerted by Semax might be associated, at least in part, with increased BDNF protein levels in this brain region.
Our results reveal the positive modulatory effect of Semax on the striatal serotonergic system and the ability of Semax to enhance both the striatal release of dopamine and locomotor behavior elicited by D-amphetamine.
Eremin KO, Kudrin VS, Saransaari P, Oja SS, Grivennikov IA, Myasoedov NF, Rayevsky KS. · Neurochem Res (2005)
Rodent neurochemistry study; Semax increased striatal 5-HIAA tissue content (+25%) and raised extracellular 5-HIAA up to 180% over 1-4 h
Semax alone did not change dopamine or its metabolites, but markedly enhanced amphetamine-evoked extracellular dopamine and locomotion
Implicates melanocortin-monoamine cross-talk in Semax's 'nootropic'/arousal effects
Semax promoted SCI functional recovery by targeting μ-opioid receptors, which regulated USP18 and, subsequently, deubiquitination of the fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO), suggesting its potential for SCI treatment.
Liu R, Chen Y, Huang H, Li X, Lv J, Jiang L, Jiang H, Wu C. · Br J Pharmacol (2025)
Mouse spinal-cord-injury (SCI) model plus PC12 neuroinflammation model — an independent (Chinese) group, not the originating Russian labs
Semax improved functional recovery (Basso scores, footprint, inclined-plane) and inhibited lysosomal-permeabilization-related pyroptosis by reducing oxidative stress
RNA-seq, network pharmacology and docking implicated the μ-opioid receptor and the deubiquitinase USP18 as targets/effectors
We have shown for the first time that both Semax and PGP activate the transcription of neurotrophins and their receptors in the cortex of rats subjected to pMCAO.
In-vitro study of rat basal-forebrain neuronal/glial cultures
Semax increased survival of cholinergic basal-forebrain neurons ~1.5-1.7 fold and stimulated choline acetyltransferase activity
Did not affect GABAergic neurons or glial proliferation
9Review2024
The review of clinical studies indicates that MGHPPGP is clinically effective in the treatment of ischemic stroke both in the acute period of stroke and in the recovery period.
Spirin NN, Fedorov VN, Vdovichenko VP. · Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova (2024)
Russian review of clinical studies of intranasal Semax (MGHPPGP) in ischemic stroke
Reports clinical efficacy in both the acute and recovery periods of stroke, framing the intranasal route as a way around the closed 'therapeutic window'
Reports efficacy across atherothrombotic and cardioembolic subtypes and both carotid and vertebrobasilar territories
Early rehabilitation and administration of semax increase BDNF plasma level, speed functional recovery, and improve motor performance.
Gusev EI, Martynov MY, Kostenko EV, Petrova LV, Bobyreva SN. · Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova (2018)
110 patients after ischemic stroke, divided into early/late rehabilitation groups with semax+ and semax- subgroups; standard regimen 6000 mcg/day intranasally in two 10-day courses
Semax raised and sustained plasma BDNF levels regardless of rehabilitation timing
Semax and high BDNF accelerated and improved final Barthel-index recovery, with a positive BDNF-Barthel correlation