Selank
Tuftsin analogue heptapeptide (peptide anxiolytic)
Status
Approved elsewhere
Registered as a peptide anxiolytic in Russia, where it is one of a small group of domestically developed peptide drugs, but not approved by the FDA or the EMA; FDA lists selank acetate (TP-7) among bulk substances whose compounding nomination was withdrawn, it is not on the 503A Bulks List, and it was not among the seven peptides reviewed at the July 2026 advisory committee meeting.
Evidence
Preliminary
Human data come from small Russian trials in anxiety and neurasthenia, several published only in Russian, with no independent replication outside Russia.
A seven-amino-acid tuftsin derivative developed in Russia and registered there as a nasal anxiolytic. Outside Russia it is an unapproved research chemical marketed for anxiety and focus.
Structure
7 residuesPoint at a bead, or focus the chain and use the arrow keys, to name it. Pick a chemistry to highlight it.
Sequence as text
H-T-K-P-R-P-G-P-OH
What it is used for
- Anxiety disorders and neurasthenia, as a registered product in Russia (approved)
- Generalised anxiety disorder compared with benzodiazepines in small Russian trials (studied)
- Attention, memory and stress resilience (claimed, unproven)
How it works
Selank is a synthetic analogue of tuftsin, a fragment of an antibody that acts on immune cells. Laboratory work from its developers describes it as a positive allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptor binding, which would give a benzodiazepine-like calming effect without acting at the benzodiazepine site itself, alongside effects on monoamine turnover and on enkephalin breakdown in rodents. The human mechanism has not been confirmed with imaging or receptor studies in people.
How strong the evidence is
Preliminary
Radioligand studies by Vyunova and colleagues (2018) support allosteric modulation of GABA binding. Rodent studies report anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects and interaction with diazepam. Human evidence rests on small Russian trials: a comparison in 60 patients with phobic-anxiety and somatoform disorders reported anxiolytic effects comparable with phenazepam and a persisting effect after dosing stopped, and earlier trials reported benefit in generalised anxiety disorder and neurasthenia. These studies are small, mostly open or single-centre, and published in Russian, so the effect size is not independently established.
Risks and side effects
- Not assessed by the FDA or the EMA; the supporting trials are small, Russian and not independently replicated
- FDA notes a risk of immune reactions from peptide aggregation and impurities, particularly for injected forms
- Research-chemical supply is unregulated, so identity, purity and sterility are unverified
- Interactions with benzodiazepines and antipsychotics have been described in laboratory work and are not characterised clinically
- No long-term human safety data, and none in children, pregnancy or breastfeeding
Regulatory status
Status by country
| Jurisdiction | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USUnited States | No authorised medicine | Source 4 |
| EUEuropean Union | No authorised medicine | Source 6 |
| UKUnited Kingdom | No authorised medicine | Source 7 |
| AUAustralia | No authorised medicine | Source 8 |
| CACanada | No authorised medicine | Source 9 |
Sources
- 01Peptide-based Anxiolytics: The Molecular Aspects of Heptapeptide Selank Biological Activity(opens the source in a new tab)
- 02A comparison of the anxiolytic effect and tolerability of selank and phenazepam in the treatment of anxiety disorders(opens the source in a new tab)
- 03Development of Peptide Biopharmaceuticals in Russia(opens the source in a new tab)
- 04Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks(opens the source in a new tab)
- 05Selank, CID 11765600(opens the source in a new tab)
- 06Find medicine: centrally authorised medicines(opens the source in a new tab)
- 07MHRA Products: active substances beginning with S(opens the source in a new tab)
- 08Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)(opens the source in a new tab)
- 09Unauthorized injectable peptide drugs seized and sold by Canada Peptide may pose serious health risks(opens the source in a new tab)
Educational information, not medical advice. Talk to a licensed clinician before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.