Semax: clinical evidence record
Also known as: ACTH (4-10) Pro-Gly-Pro, Methionyl-glutamyl-histidyl-phenylalanyl-prolyl-glycyl-proline
Oliver Mackman · Editorial director · Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937)
Last updated 2026-05-22
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AI-friendly summary · Semax
Russian Federation registered medicine for acute ischaemic stroke, ADHD, and optic-nerve atrophy. Bulk of clinical literature is Russian. Limited Western replication. No phase III RCTs published outside Russia.
Mechanism of action
How Semax works
Synthetic heptapeptide based on residues 4 to 7 of ACTH with a proline-glycine-proline C-terminal extension. Proposed to upregulate BDNF and NGF expression in preclinical rodent brain tissue and to exert neuroprotective effects in animal stroke models.
Top peer-reviewed citations
Selection of the most-cited peer-reviewed literature on Semax. Where a verified PMID or DOI is shown, the citation links to the original record. Other citations list the title, authors, journal and year so the reader can locate the paper through the journal index or the PubMed search linked below. PeptideClear publishes editorial commentary, not clinical guidance.
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Semax in acute ischaemic stroke
Gusev EI, Skvortsova VI, Miasoedov NF, et al.. Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii im S S Korsakova, 1997.
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Semax effects on BDNF expression in rat brain
Dolotov OV, Karpenko EA, Inozemtseva LS, et al.. Journal of Neurochemistry, 2006.
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Semax in optic-nerve atrophy
Polunin GS, Nuriyeva SM, Bayandin DL, et al.. Vestnik Oftalmologii, 2000.
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Effect of Semax on the central monoaminergic system
Eremin KO, Kudrin VS, Saransaari P, et al.. Neurochemical Research, 2005.
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Semax, an analogue of adrenocorticotropin (4-10), binds specifically and increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein in rat basal forebrain
Dolotov OV, Karpenko EA, Seredenina TS, et al.. Journal of neurochemistry, 2006.
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Novel synthetic analogue of ACTH 4-10 (Semax) but not glycine prevents the enhanced nitric oxide generation in cerebral cortex of rats with incomplete global ischemia
Bashkatova VG, Koshelev VB, Fadyukova OE, et al.. Brain research, 2001.
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[The efficacy of semax in the tretament of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke]
Gusev EI, Martynov MY, Kostenko EV, et al.. Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova, 2018.
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The occurrence of putative cognitive enhancing research peptides in seized pharmaceutical preparations: An incentive for controlling agencies to prepare for future encounters of the kind
Vanhee C, Francotte A, Janvier S, et al.. Drug testing and analysis, 2020.
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The Potential of the Peptide Drug Semax and Its Derivative for Correcting Pathological Impairments in the Animal Model of Alzheimer's Disease
Radchenko AI, Kuzubova EV, Apostol AA, et al.. Acta naturae, 2025.
Full PubMed search: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Semax+ACTH.
UK regulatory status
Plain-English summary of where Semax sits under the four UK and international frameworks that govern peptide supply. Editorial commentary, not legal advice.
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: Not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
- Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: Not scheduled under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
- MHRA medicines classification: No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine.
- WADA Prohibited List: Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List.
Risks and unknowns
What the literature does not yet show about Semax
Known concerns
- Most published efficacy claims for Semax require careful interpretation. Read the cited papers in full before drawing conclusions.
- Purity of UK research-peptide supply varies between retailers. Certificates of analysis and HPLC documentation differ.
- Cold-chain handling between manufacture and delivery is not standardised across the research-peptide market.
- Independent replication of single-group findings is the key check on any preclinical claim.
Open questions in the literature
- Where human pharmacokinetics have not been formally characterised, dose translation from animal models is not reliable.
- Long-term safety profile beyond the duration of published studies remains an open question.
- Interactions with other prescribed or unlicensed substances are typically not studied.
Regulatory note
No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine. Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List. The moment a UK seller or commentator makes a therapeutic claim, MHRA can treat the product as an unlicensed medicinal product.
Important: PeptideClear publishes encyclopedia commentary only and does not recommend human use. Speak to a UK-registered prescriber before any medical decision.
Related reading on PeptideClear
Frequently asked questions
What is the evidence level for Semax?
What is the UK regulatory status of Semax?
Has Semax been tested in human clinical trials?
Where can I read the source literature for Semax?
Last verified 2026-05-22. Editorial commentary, not legal or clinical advice. Citations without a linked identifier can be located through the PubMed search and the journal index.