Synthetic tuftsin analog (anxiolytic peptide)

Selank

Russian-origin nootropic — small non-blinded studies; not FDA-approved.

Research-only / unregulatedGrade D — Plausible, unproven

Target

Putative GABAergic / enkephalin modulation

Mechanism of action

Heptapeptide derivative of tuftsin. Proposed anxiolytic effect via enkephalin stabilization and GABA modulation. Mechanism not rigorously characterized in humans.

Pharmacokinetics

Intranasal commonly; SC used grey-market.

Clinical context

Anxiety/asthenia in Russian clinical practice; no Western approval.

Safety

Contraindications

Pregnancy

Adverse effects

Largely unknown
Source-purity dominant risk

Covered in modules

Module 13

Cognitive & Nootropic Peptides

Semax, Selank, Cerebrolysin, Dihexa, Cerebrolysin, NSI-189-style claims.

Module 15

Controversies, Pipeline & Frontier

What's in phase II/III right now — and what 2027 will probably look like.

Module 16

Khavinson 'Bioregulator' Peptides — Deep Dive

40+ years of Russian research, one institution, almost no independent replication. What clinicians actually need to know about Epitalon, Pinealon, Vesugen, Vilon, and Cortexin.

Related compounds

GIP / GLP-1 / Glucagon triple agonist

Retatrutide

Synthetic ACTH(4–10) analog

Semax

Khavinson 'bioregulator' tetrapeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly)

Epitalon (Epithalon)

Khavinson tripeptide (Glu-Asp-Arg)

Pinealon

Generate prescriber-grade deep dive

Pull in expanded mechanism, PK/PD, dosing strategies for special populations, drug interactions, monitoring cadence, head-to-head differentials, prescriber pearls, and patient FAQs for Selank.

Educational reference. Not medical advice. Always verify against current FDA labeling and local regulatory guidance before prescribing or counseling.