Semax

Volume Pricing

Price per pack (10 vials). Discount applies to this compound only – no mix and match.

Semax — ACTH-Derived Neuroprotective Heptapeptide with BDNF-Upregulating Activity

Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the 1980s–1990s, based on the ACTH(4-10) fragment (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly) with a C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro (PGP) extension. The PGP tripeptide extension substantially alters the pharmacological profile of the parent ACTH fragment: it eliminates binding to melanocortin receptors (MC1R–MC5R) and extends metabolic stability by conferring resistance to prolyl endopeptidase. Semax was approved in Russia and Ukraine for clinical use in ischemic stroke and cognitive impairment, and is listed in the Russian State Pharmacopoeia. Its primary mechanism involves rapid upregulation of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and its receptor TrkB, alongside modulation of NGF expression, dopaminergic tone, and serotonin metabolism — a profile distinct from any ACTH melanocortin receptor-mediated effect.

Why Semax’s PGP Extension and BDNF Mechanism Matter

The Pro-Gly-Pro extension is not merely a stability modification — it redirects receptor selectivity entirely. Native ACTH(4-7) fragments stimulate melanocortin receptors and produce short-lived effects. Semax’s PGP tail prevents this interaction while enabling an uncharacterized high-affinity binding event that rapidly induces BDNF mRNA transcription in cortical and hippocampal neurons. BDNF upregulation activates TrkB, driving PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK pathways involved in neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and dendritic arborization. Concurrently, Semax modulates DAT (dopamine transporter) expression and serotonin reuptake, providing a multi-system neurochemical profile that is unusual for a single heptapeptide.

Research Applications

Semax is used in studies examining:

• Neuroprotection — stroke, hypoxia, and excitotoxicity models; BDNF-mediated neuronal survival
• Cognitive function — attention, learning, and memory in rodent behavioral paradigms
• BDNF and TrkB signaling dynamics — induction kinetics, downstream PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK pathway activation
• Anxiety modulation — HPA axis activity, corticosterone response, elevated plus maze performance
• Dopaminergic system research — DAT expression, striatal dopamine turnover
• Neuropeptide half-life extension strategies — PGP-motif metabolism and CNS penetration

Specifications

Reconstitution

Semax arrives as lyophilized powder and must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water prior to use. Use the formula:

Total mg ÷ Volume added (mL) = Concentration (mg/mL)

Example: 5mg vial + 1mL BAC water = 5mg/mL solution; 10mg vial + 2mL BAC water = 5mg/mL solution

Reconstituted peptide should be stored at 2–8°C and used within 28–30 days.

Protocol Notes

Russian clinical trial literature and preclinical research provide the following reference frameworks — not instructions for use:

• Dose range: 0.1mg/kg intranasal in published Russian clinical trials; 150–300mcg per session in observational research frameworks
• Frequency: Once or twice daily in most preclinical studies; 10–14 day cycles documented in clinical literature
• Study duration: Acute (1–3 days) in stroke models; 10–30 days in cognitive and neuroprotection studies

Research Stacks

Semax is commonly paired in research settings with:

• Selank — Selank inhibits enkephalin-degrading enzymes and modulates GABAergic signaling, providing an anxiolytic counterpart to Semax’s BDNF-upregulating and dopaminergic effects. Researchers pair both to study combined neuroprotective and stress-attenuating mechanisms in the CNS.
• Cerebrolysin — Cerebrolysin provides low-molecular-weight neurotrophic peptides with established NGF- and BDNF-like activity; pairing with Semax’s melanocortin receptor stimulation and BDNF induction creates a model for examining multi-pathway neurotrophin support.
• DSIP — DSIP modulates sleep-regulatory and stress-response circuits; combined with Semax’s nootropic and cortical activation profile, the pairing is used in studies examining cognitive performance under conditions of sleep disruption or elevated stress load.

Purity Guarantee

Every batch is ≥99% purity. If you independently test your compound and the results don’t match — send us the COA and we’ll issue store credit, no questions asked.