Semax

Cognitive Research compound (not approved for human use)

Synthetic ACTH(4-10) heptapeptide analog · also known as Semax nasal, ACTH(4-10) analog

For reference only — not medical advice. Figures are commonly reported values compiled from published sources and may be wrong or out of date. Many compounds listed are not approved for human use. Talk to a licensed clinician before using any compound.

Semax is a short synthetic peptide modelled on the ACTH(4-10) fragment with a stabilizing Pro-Gly-Pro tail. It was developed in Russia, where it is registered as an intranasal medicine, and most of the human literature comes from there. It is usually prepared as a dilute nasal spray, although subcutaneous use is also commonly reported.

Commonly reported dosing (5 mg vial)

Reconstituted with 5 mL → 1 mg/mL.

Also sold in 10 mg vials.

Phase	Dose	Volume	U-100 units
Lower	200 mcg	0.2 mL	20
Higher	300 mcg	0.3 mL	30

Frequency: 2-3x daily in the first half of the day, intranasal · Half-life: Short in plasma (minutes); route dependent

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Commonly reported reconstitution steps

Vials are usually brought to room temperature (about 15-20 minutes) first.
5 mL of sterile water is added slowly down the inside wall of the 5 mg vial.
The vial is swirled gently until clear, not shaken.
This gives 1 mg/mL. Mixed vials are typically labeled with the date and refrigerated.

Storage

Before mixing: Lyophilized vials are commonly stored frozen (-20 °C) and protected from light.

After mixing: Reconstituted solution is commonly kept refrigerated (about 4 °C) for up to roughly four weeks, or frozen for longer holds.

Commonly used within 28 days of mixing.

How it works

In animal work Semax raises brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and related signaling in the basal forebrain and hippocampus, and it appears to alter expression of genes involved in vascular and neuronal responses to ischemia. It does not act as a corticotropin receptor agonist in the usual hormonal sense.

Researched for

Studied in animal models for neuroprotection and BDNF-related signaling.
Examined in Russian clinical work on ischemic stroke recovery and chronic cerebrovascular disease.
Investigated for effects on attention, memory, and stress-related measures in small studies.

Notes

Dose figures here describe a nasal-spray preparation; the 0.10 mL spray size and the resulting per-spray amount depend on the actuator used (about 100 mcg per spray at 5 mL final volume for a 5 mg vial).
The nasal preparation is normally made up in a sterile saline-type vehicle rather than bacteriostatic water.
Approved for clinical use in Russia and some neighboring countries; not FDA-approved.
Most evidence is from Russian-language studies and animal work; large independent trials are lacking.