Semax
aka ACTH(4-10) analogue · Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro
A heptapeptide ACTH fragment approved in Russia for stroke and cognitive indications, with essentially no Western regulatory recognition and a modest but real clinical literature.
Mechanism of action
Increases BDNF and NGF expression in the hippocampus, modulates dopaminergic and serotonergic tone, and reduces oxidative stress after ischemia without ACTH's corticotropic activity.
Doses used in published studies
Russian protocols: 0.1–1% intranasal solution, 200–600 µg/day for acute indications.
These figures describe what researchers administered under supervision. They are reported for accuracy and are not a protocol, recommendation, or substitute for clinical guidance.
Reported benefits
- Improved neurological recovery scores in Russian stroke trials
- Increased BDNF in animal models
- Reported attention and memory effects in small studies
Risks & unknowns
- Trial quality and blinding in the source literature are frequently weak
- Nasal irritation
- Unknown effects of chronic neurotrophic stimulation
Legal & regulatory status
Registered medicine in Russia; not approved by the FDA or EMA and not lawfully marketable as a US supplement. Sold online as a research chemical.
Check status in your state or country →Key studies
- Semax in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Clinical Efficacy Data
Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii / PubMed · 2011