Cognition
An unapproved peptide developed in Russia
Not FDA-approved · not available for sale or prescriptionSelank is not FDA-approved, and its human evidence is limited to small Russian studies. It is a synthetic peptide analogue of tuftsin developed in Russia, where it is reportedly sold in pharmacies as an anti-anxiety and 'nootropic' drug; in the US it is widely marketed as a research chemical. Human evidence consists of small Russian comparative studies (published 2008-2015, 60-70 patients each) against benzodiazepines (medazepam, phenazepam) in generalized anxiety disorder and related anxiety disorders; none is described as a registered or Phase III trial.
Also known as Tuftsin analogue TP-7 · Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro · TKPRPGP
TKPRPGP
Selank is reported to modulate GABAergic signaling (grouped with GABA-receptor-related sedative-hypnotic agents in a pharmacology review), reduce corticosterone/stress-hormone responses, and exert tuftsin-like immunomodulatory effects. Animal studies show anxiolytic-like effects in withdrawal and stress models, attenuating morphine-withdrawal signs and stress-induced colonic pathology, though its receptor pharmacology in humans is not well characterized.
Evidence · Early or small human studies
In outbred rats, a single intraperitoneal injection of Selank reduced the total naloxone-precipitated morphine-withdrawal syndrome index by 39.6% and significantly attenuated convulsions, ptosis and posture disorders, somewhat less than diazepam (49.3% reduction).
outbred rats, morphine-dependence/withdrawal model
In rats subjected to chronic restraint stress, Selank injected intraperitoneally before stress reduced corticosterone elevation and pathomorphological signs of colonic atrophy/inflammation and accelerated colonic adaptation to stress.
male Wistar rats, chronic restraint-stress model
A clinical pharmacology review grouped Selank with phenibut as a 'poorly studied Russian drug' with a GABAergic mechanism that is 'inexplicably sold to US consumers as dietary supplements,' cautioning that rigorous safety/abuse-potential evaluation is warranted before wider public access.
narrative pharmacology/safety review
Forensic chemists identified Selank (with Semax) in seized suspicious pharmaceutical preparations in Belgium and validated an LC-MS/MS method to detect it. The authors wrote that, to their knowledge, these research peptides had not completed any clinical trials; in fact, small Russian clinical studies of Selank in anxiety disorders have been published since 2008.
seized-sample forensic analysis, not a clinical population
Based on: small comparative clinical studies (Russia, 2008-2015) in anxiety disorders; animal data for mechanism; anecdotal for US research-chemical use.
Checked 2026-09