Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences as a metabolically stabilized analogue of the endogenous immune tetrapeptide tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg), extended at the C-terminus with a Pro-Gly-Pro tripeptide.3 It has been studied primarily as a peptide anxiolytic and neuro-modulator. It is offered for laboratory research use only and is not an approved drug in North America; the human clinical literature consists mainly of small Russian-language trials that have not been replicated in large Western randomized controlled studies, so the human evidence base remains limited.1 Much of the mechanistic understanding comes from animal and cell-culture models.34
Sequence & identity
Structure and identity per PubChem CID 11765600 (InChIKey JTDTXGMXNXBGBZ-YVHUGQOKSA-N; CAS 129954-34-3).5 Molar mass shown is for the free peptide; acetate salt forms (TP-7 diacetate) have a higher mass.
Mechanisms studied
Selank is derived from tuftsin, and researchers added a C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro extension to slow enzymatic degradation and improve metabolic stability relative to the rapidly cleaved parent tetrapeptide.3 In male Wistar rats, researchers reported that intranasal Selank regulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and mRNA levels in the hippocampus.3 In human neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells, investigators observed that Selank alone produced no significant change in GABAergic gene expression but, when combined with GABA, suppressed most of the gene-expression changes seen with GABA alone — data the authors interpreted as partial support for an allosteric, indirect interaction with the GABAergic system rather than direct receptor activation.4 In patients with anxiety-asthenic disorders, researchers also reported immunomodulatory effects, including suppression of peripheral-blood IL-6 gene expression in vitro and shifts in Th1/Th2 cytokine balance.2 A proposed link to the enkephalin system was noted in the clinical trial, where reduced baseline enkephalin levels correlated with symptom severity and rose with treatment.1
Dosing in the research literature
The figures below summarise regimens as reported in published research — they are not recommendations or directions for use.
| Source / model | Regimen reported | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zozulia et al. 2008, generalized anxiety disorder / neurasthenia trial1 | Intranasal Selank administered over a multi-week course; one associated report cited an intranasal regimen of approximately 2700 µg/day. Exact per-dose amounts were not fully specified in the available English abstract. | As reported in studies only. The trial compared Selank (30 subjects) to the benzodiazepine medazepam (32 subjects); this is a small study published in Russian. Not a usage instruction. |
| Uchakina et al. 2008, immunomodulatory study2 | A 14-day intranasal treatment course was described in patients with anxiety-asthenic disorders; in-vitro work used a 10⁻⁷ M concentration. | Participant numbers and precise dosing were not specified in the available abstract. Reported for research context; not a directive to administer. |
Effects observed in research
In a small clinical trial in generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia, researchers reported that the anxiolytic effect of intranasal Selank was similar to that of the benzodiazepine medazepam on the Hamilton and Zung scales, and that Selank additionally showed antiasthenic and psychostimulant effects that the comparator lacked; the authors described less sedation and no withdrawal on discontinuation.1 Investigators also observed immunomodulatory changes, including effects on IL-6 gene expression and Th1/Th2 cytokine balance, in patients with anxiety-asthenic disorders.2 In rodents, researchers reported regulation of hippocampal BDNF expression after intranasal administration.3 These findings come from a limited number of small human trials and preclinical models and should be read as research observations, not established clinical outcomes.
Strength of evidence
Grade B — limited human data supported by animal and in-vitro work. The most-cited human study is a single small trial (Zozulia et al. 2008, n=62 across two arms) published in a Russian-language journal and not independently replicated in large Western randomized controlled trials.1 A companion paper reported immunomodulatory findings in a related patient population.2 Mechanistic support is preclinical: BDNF regulation in rat hippocampus3 and GABAergic gene-expression modulation in a human cell line.4 Long-term safety, optimal dosing, and efficacy outside these settings are not established. Selank is not an approved therapeutic agent in North America and is supplied for research use only.
Reconstitution & storage
Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water for laboratory handling. Store lyophilised material frozen and reconstituted material refrigerated. Use Peptigo’s reconstitution calculator and storage cheat sheet for working figures.
References
- Zozulia AA, Neznamov GG, Siuniakov TS, Kost NV, Gabaeva MV, Sokolov OIu, Serebriakova EV, Siranchieva OA, Andriushenko AV, Telesheva ES, Siuniakov SA, Smulevich AB, Miasoedov NF, Seredenin SB. Efficacy and possible mechanisms of action of a new peptide anxiolytic selank in the therapy of generalized anxiety disorders and neurasthenia. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2008;108(4):38-48. PMID: 18454096.
- Uchakina ON, Uchakin PN, Miasoedov NF, Andreeva LA, Shcherbenko VE, Mezentseva MV, Gabaeva MV, Sokolov OIu, Zozulia AA, Ershov FI. Immunomodulatory effects of selank in patients with anxiety-asthenic disorders. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2008;108(5):71-5. PMID: 18577961.
- Inozemtseva LS, Karpenko EA, Dolotov OV, Levitskaya NG, Kamensky AA, Andreeva LA, Grivennikov IA. Intranasal administration of the peptide Selank regulates BDNF expression in the rat hippocampus in vivo. Dokl Biol Sci. 2008 Jul-Aug;421:241-3. PMID: 18841804.
- Filatova E, Kasian A, Kolomin T, Rybalkina E, Alieva A, Andreeva L, Limborska S, Myasoedov N, Pavlova G, Slominsky P, Shadrina M. GABA, Selank, and Olanzapine Affect the Expression of Genes Involved in GABAergic Neurotransmission in IMR-32 Cells. Front Pharmacol. 2017;8:89. doi:10.3389/fphar.2017.00089. PMID: 28293190.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 11765600, Selank. CAS 129954-34-3; InChIKey JTDTXGMXNXBGBZ-YVHUGQOKSA-N. Accessed 2026.