Selank
A synthetic peptide developed in Russia and used there for anxiety. It is based on a fragment of the immune peptide tuftsin, but it is not approved in the US and rigorous independent human evidence is limited.
Quick take
- What it is: a synthetic peptide derived from the immune peptide tuftsin, developed in Russia as an anti-anxiety agent.
- What people use it for: reducing anxiety, and informally for mood and focus.
- What we actually know: most evidence comes from Russian and small studies; independent, large-scale human trials are lacking.
- Status: used clinically in Russia but not approved by the FDA or other major Western regulators.
What it is
Selank is a synthetic peptide developed at a Russian research institute as an anti-anxiety (anxiolytic) agent. It is based on a fragment of tuftsin, a naturally occurring peptide involved in immune function, modified to be more stable.1
It is part of a small group of Russian-developed neuropeptides — alongside Semax — that are used clinically in Russia but are not approved in the US or most other countries.
How it works
Selank is thought to influence anxiety and mood through effects on GABAergic and serotonergic signalling and on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and related pathways. It may also modulate the immune-related system it is derived from.1,2 The precise mechanism in humans is not fully characterised.
What the evidence shows
Animal studies
Animal studies report anxiolytic-like effects and changes in neurotransmitter and gene-expression markers, providing the mechanistic basis for its development.2
Human studies
Human data exist, including studies in anxiety, but most are small and originate from Russian research groups, and large independent randomised trials are lacking. As a result, the size and reliability of its effects in people are not well established outside that body of work.3
Dosages reported in the literature
Informational only. The figures below describe doses reported in studies and clinical use in Russia. They are not a recommendation or a prescription. Appropriate use, if any, should be determined by a qualified healthcare professional.
| Setting | Route | Reported range |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety (Russian clinical use) | Intranasal | Microgram-to-low-milligram daily ranges reported |
| Research | Subcutaneous | Variable; not standardised internationally |
Because there are no large independent dose-finding trials, no range here should be read as established as safe or effective.
Safety & side effects
In the reported clinical use, Selank is generally described as well tolerated, without sedation typical of some conventional anxiolytics.3 However, there are no long-term controlled Western safety studies, so its full risk profile is not established.
As with any peptide sold outside a regulated supply chain, product purity and dose accuracy vary between sources, which is an added concern.
Legal & regulatory status
Selank is not approved by the FDA or other major Western regulators. It is used clinically in Russia, where it was developed, but that does not confer approval elsewhere.1 Its legal status for sale and use varies by country and changes over time.
References
- Konstantinopolsky MA, Chernyakova IV, Kolik LG. Selank, a Peptide Analog of Tuftsin, Attenuates Aversive Signs of Morphine Withdrawal in Rats. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2022;173(6):739-742. [PMID 36322304, doi:10.1007/s10517-022-05624-x]
- Volkova A, Shadrina M, Kolomin T, Andreeva L, Limborska S, Myasoedov N, Slominsky P. Selank Administration Affects the Expression of Some Genes Involved in GABAergic Neurotransmission. Front Pharmacol. 2016;7:31. [PMID 26924987, doi:10.3389/fphar.2016.00031]
- Zozulia AA, Neznamov GG, Siuniakov TS, Kost NV, Gabaeva MV, Sokolov OIu, et al. [Efficacy and possible mechanisms of action of a new peptide anxiolytic selank in the therapy of generalized anxiety disorders and neurasthenia]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2008;108(4):38-48. Russian. [PMID 18454096]