WhichPeps

Semax

ACTH(4-7)-derived synthetic peptide analogue

Strokeneuroprotection and cog…
Generic peptide vial illustrationSemax
Evidence levelLimited human
Human evidenceLimited
Regulatory statusNot FDA/EMA-approved

What you need to know in 20 seconds

What is it?ACTH(4-7)-derived synthetic peptide analogue
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.
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Older regional stroke and rehabilitation studies report neurological/functional signals and BDNF changes, but this evidence does not establish healthy-person cognitive enhancement.

What the evidence actually supports

  • ✓Cognition hub should distinguish human signal from strength/modernity of evidence.
  • ✓Separate stroke rehabilitation evidence from nootropic marketing.
  • ✓Do not translate this evidence into healthy-person cognitive-enhancement claims.
  • ✓Page should pair older efficacy reports with current safety uncertainty.

What is not established / key limitations

  • ×Modern large healthy-population RCT evidence is lacking; regional use does not establish universal approval.
  • ×The study does not establish healthy-person cognitive enhancement.
  • ×No modern large multinational placebo-controlled outcome programme establishes routine stroke efficacy.
  • ×No adequate subcutaneous safety dataset and limited modern human PK/safety information.

Selected study & evidence records

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 ↗

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 ↗

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.
Dosing evidence statusVerified dosing evidence added. Published human intranasal research range. See dosing_evidence records for route, regimen, population, duration and source.
Identifiers & alternate namesnasal SEMAX

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.