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Semax

ACTH(4-7)-derived synthetic peptide analogue

Strokeneuroprotection and cog…
Generic peptide vial illustrationSemax
Entity typePeptide analogue / modified peptide
Evidence reviewed2026-09-18
Canonical recordSEMAX
Page updated2026-09-20
Evidence profileLimited/regional human stroke evidence; no established healthy nootropic efficacy
Human evidenceLimited
Regulatory statusNot FDA/EMA-approved
Choose your depthStart simple, then open the evidence or technical detail only if you need it.
Quick answerPlain languageEvidenceOutcomes and studiesStudiesPrimary recordsTechnicalMechanism, route and identifiers

In plain English

30-second evidence answer

What does the evidence mean in simple terms?

Semax has limited human research, mainly in regional stroke and neurological settings. That evidence does not establish reliable cognitive enhancement in healthy people or broad neuroprotective benefits.

Still uncertain: Healthy-person cognitive enhancement, broad neuroprotection, long-term compounded-route safety or an approved regimen.

New to terms such as “preclinical”, “randomized” or “investigational”? Use the plain-English glossary →

What does the evidence mean in simple terms? table
What is it?ACTH(4-7)-derived synthetic peptide analogue
Entity typePeptide analogue / modified peptide
Research focusStroke/neuroprotection and cognitive research
Human evidenceOlder regional stroke and rehabilitation studies report neurological/functional signals and BDNF changes, but this evidence does not establish healthy-person cognitive enhancement.
Regulatory statusNot FDA/EMA-approved; US compounding status has been under FDA review.
Main limitationsHealthy-person cognitive enhancement, broad neuroprotection, long-term compounded-route safety or an approved regimen.
SafetySafety data outside regional clinical experience are limited; FDA has highlighted insufficient safety information for compounded Semax.
Evidence reviewed2026-09-18
i
Older regional stroke and rehabilitation studies report neurological/functional signals and BDNF changes, but this evidence does not establish healthy-person cognitive enhancement.
Outcome-level evidence

Evidence is not one score.

Each record below answers a narrower question about an outcome, population or context. Evidence status and the study finding are shown separately so strong evidence is not mistaken for a positive effect.

How to read this →

Attention/memory/cognitive performance

Human evidence
Limited human evidence

Context: Small human/neurologic and demanding-condition studies

Finding: Some human evidence differentiates Semax from purely preclinical 'smart peptide' claims.

Uncertainty / evidence gap: Modern large healthy-population RCT evidence is lacking

Regulatory / scope context: regional use does not establish universal approval.

Post-stroke rehabilitation / neurorecovery

Human evidence
Limited regional human clinical evidence

Context: People after ischemic stroke

Finding: Human clinical exposure exists in neurologic patients.

Uncertainty / evidence gap: The study does not establish healthy-person cognitive enhancement.

Verified 2026-09-18Primary source ↗

Neurological recovery after ischemic stroke

Human evidence
Limited/older regional human clinical evidence

Context: Acute and rehabilitation-stage ischemic stroke

Finding: There is clinical signal in stroke populations.

Uncertainty / evidence gap: No modern large multinational placebo-controlled outcome programme establishes routine stroke efficacy.

Safety and route uncertainty

Regulatory context
Regulatory safety-information gap

Context: Intranasal / compounded Semax

Finding: Safety evidence is not strong enough to support broad unsupervised use.

Safety / tolerability context: No adequate subcutaneous safety dataset and limited modern human PK/safety information.

Verified 2026-09-18Primary source ↗
Evidence rule: an outcome-specific evidence label is not a recommendation, a safety rating or an overall score for the compound.

Evidence synthesis

  • ✓Some human evidence differentiates Semax from purely preclinical 'smart peptide' claims.
  • ✓Human clinical exposure exists in neurologic patients.
  • ✓There is clinical signal in stroke populations.
  • ✓Safety evidence is not strong enough to support broad unsupervised use.

Important limitations

  • !Older/small studies; formulation/regulatory status vary.
  • !Regional study design and limited international replication restrict certainty.
  • !Regional studies, older reporting standards, heterogeneous stages/regimens.
  • !Regulatory assessment is specifically relevant to compounded material, not every historical regional product.

Selected study & evidence records

Semax in the acute period of hemispheric ischemic stroke

2001 · Controlled comparative clinical study · n=Not stated in search extract

Semax added to intensive therapy was reported to accelerate regression of neurological deficits, especially motor impairment.

Study detail → Primary source ↗

Semax during rehabilitation after ischemic stroke

2018 · Clinical comparative rehabilitation study · n=110

Semax exposure was associated with higher BDNF and faster/final Barthel-index improvement in the study groups.

Study detail → Primary source ↗

Safety and unknowns

Safety data outside regional clinical experience are limited; FDA has highlighted insufficient safety information for compounded Semax.

FDA says compounded Semax has no or limited safety information for proposed routes and may pose immunogenicity/impurity risks.

Technical details

Mechanism / biologyProposed neurotrophic/neuroprotective signalling with effects on melanocortin-related and gene-expression pathways.
Route / formulation boundaryDo not convert regional clinical use into a general cognitive-enhancement claim.
Identity / data-quality noteUse the canonical compound identity and studied formulation when interpreting evidence.
Study / label regimen evidenceVerified study/label regimen evidence is available. Published human intranasal research range. Open descriptive regimen evidence →
Identifiers & alternate namesnasal SEMAX

Source depth & provenance

WhichPeps does not rely on a single headline study when the evidence base is broader. Primary research, registries, regulators and supporting records are kept distinct.

2structured study records
4outcome records
7linked source records

How to read these counts: they show evidence coverage, not evidence strength. One large, well-designed study can be more informative than several weak or indirect records.

Show supporting and discovery sources

Study pages above contain the records used for public evidence summaries. The links below include supporting, regulatory and literature-discovery sources; a registry or search result is not treated as proof of benefit.

Evidence rule: WhichPeps keeps human, animal, laboratory, regulatory and product/formulation evidence distinct. Common names help people find the page; they do not change the underlying scientific identity.