Semax, Selank and Adamax are the three neurotropic peptides most often compared in this catalog. Two share a development origin and are frequently described as cousins; the third is related but structurally distinct. Their differences come down to which parent sequence each derives from.
- Semax
- ACTH(4-10) fragment analog
- Selank
- Tuftsin analog
- Adamax
- Modified ACTH-fragment analog
- Shared origin
- Russian peptide research
The short answer
Semax is an analog of a fragment of ACTH, specifically the ACTH(4-10) region, modified for stability. Selank is an analog of tuftsin, an immunomodulatory peptide, similarly modified. Adamax is a further modified ACTH-fragment analog, placing it closer to Semax in lineage than to Selank. All three were developed in the Russian peptide-research tradition.
| Semax | Selank | Adamax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent sequence | ACTH(4-10) | Tuftsin | ACTH fragment |
| Class | Heptapeptide analog | Heptapeptide analog | Modified analog |
| Closest relative here | Adamax | Semax (by origin) | Semax |
| Published literature | Substantial, largely Russian-language | Substantial, largely Russian-language | Limited |
| Study models | Rodent and cell | Rodent and cell | Largely preclinical |
Semax and Selank: cousins by development, not by sequence
Semax and Selank are cousins: both are stable, Russian-developed heptapeptides that emerged from the same research programme and are frequently studied alongside each other. Their parent sequences are unrelated, though – Semax derives from an ACTH fragment, Selank from tuftsin – so the relationship is one of research lineage rather than molecular similarity.
Semax was developed in Russia in the 1980s-1990s at the Russian Academy of Sciences, and much of the published literature for both compounds is Russian-language. That is a practical constraint for researchers: the evidence base exists but is less accessible in English-language indexes than the literature for Western-developed compounds.
Where Adamax sits
Adamax is a further modified ACTH-fragment analog, which places it in the Semax lineage rather than the Selank one. Its published literature is more limited than either, and largely preclinical. A researcher encountering Adamax through search should be aware that the comparative depth of evidence behind it is thinner than for the other two.
Evidence quality
All three sit at a preclinical or early evidence stage from the standpoint of English-language indexed literature. Study models are predominantly rodent and cell-based. Research designs treating any of the three as an established intervention are not supported by the published record.
All compounds referenced here are supplied as analytical-grade reference materials for in-vitro and laboratory research only. Nothing on this page is a recommendation for human or veterinary use, and no comparison below should be read as ranking these materials for any personal outcome.
Studies cited
- Intranasal NAP (davunetide) decreases tau hyperphosphorylation and improves behavioral deficits (Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, 2014)
- NAP (davunetide) provides functional and structural neuroprotection (Current Pharmaceutical Design, 2011)
- Davunetide (AL-108) on cognition and functional capacity in schizophrenia (Schizophrenia Research, 2012)
- The peptide Semax affects the expression of genes related to the immune and vascular systems in rat brain focal ischemia (BMC genomics, 2014)
- Semax, an ACTH4-10 peptide analog with high affinity for copper(II) ion and protective ability against metal-induced cell toxicity (Journal of inorganic biochemistry, 2015)
- Brain protein expression profile confirms the protective effect of the ACTH(4-7)PGP peptide (Semax) in a rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (International journal of molecular sciences, 2021)
- Peptide-based anxiolytics: the molecular aspects of heptapeptide Selank biological activity (Protein and peptide letters, 2018)
- Peptide Selank enhances the effect of diazepam in reducing anxiety in unpredictable chronic mild stress conditions in rats (Behavioural neurology, 2017)
- Selank administration affects the expression of some genes involved in GABAergic neurotransmission (Frontiers in pharmacology, 2016)
Questions
What is the difference between Semax and Selank?
Semax and Selank are cousins: both are stable, Russian-developed heptapeptides from the same research tradition. Their parent sequences differ – Semax derives from the ACTH(4-10) fragment and Selank from tuftsin – so the relationship is one of development lineage rather than molecular similarity.
Where does Adamax fit compared to Semax?
Adamax is a further modified ACTH-fragment analog, which places it in the same lineage as Semax rather than Selank. Its published literature is more limited than Semax's and largely preclinical.
Why is the research on these peptides hard to find?
Much of the published literature on Semax and Selank is Russian-language, reflecting where they were developed. The evidence base exists but is less represented in English-language indexes than for Western-developed compounds.
Was Semax developed recently?
Semax was developed in Russia in the 1980s-1990s at the Russian Academy of Sciences, so the compound and much of its literature predate most current peptide research interest.
For laboratory research and educational purposes only. Not medical advice. The materials discussed are not for human or animal consumption and have not been evaluated by the FDA.