What it is
Selank (also called TP-7) is a synthetic heptapeptide derived from tuftsin, a naturally occurring tetrapeptide fragment of immunoglobulin G involved in immune regulation. Russian researchers extended the tuftsin sequence to improve stability and central nervous system activity. Selank was developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow and has been approved by the Russian Ministry of Health as a nasal spray formulation for anxiety. It has not been approved by the FDA or EMA.
What researchers study it for
- Anxiety and anxiolytic effects Selank's primary research area is anxiolytic activity. Animal studies have found anxiety-reducing effects in standard behavioral tests, including forced swim and elevated plus-maze models, with a profile researchers describe as similar to benzodiazepines but without the sedation or tolerance typically associated with that class. [2] A 60-patient clinical trial in Russia compared selank to phenazepam in anxiety disorders, finding comparable anxiety reduction with a more favorable tolerability profile. [3]
- GABA system modulation In vitro work has examined how selank interacts with GABAergic neurotransmission pathways. A 2017 study found that selank altered the expression of genes involved in GABAergic signaling in human neuroblastoma cells, providing a proposed molecular basis for its anxiolytic effects. [5]
- Cognitive function and memory Rodent studies have examined selank's effects on memory and learning. Research using an ethanol-induced memory impairment model found that selank administration was associated with preservation of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex compared to controls. [4]
- Immune and anti-inflammatory activity As a tuftsin analog, selank retains some of the immunomodulatory properties of the parent peptide. Studies have examined its effects on cytokine profiles and immune cell activity, though this research area is less developed than the anxiolytic work. [1]
- Addiction and withdrawal research Animal studies have investigated selank in the context of opioid and alcohol withdrawal. A 2022 study found that selank attenuated withdrawal signs in a morphine-dependence model in rats, extending research interest beyond anxiety into substance dependence research. [1]
Research context
The evidence base for selank is predominantly from animal models and in vitro studies, with most published work originating from Russian research institutions. The compound has regulatory approval in Russia, which represents a higher evidentiary bar than most research peptides on this site, but the Russian approval does not extend to FDA or EMA jurisdictions. The single published human clinical trial (PMID 25176261) enrolled 60 patients and compared selank nasal spray to phenazepam in anxiety disorders, finding comparable efficacy with fewer side effects. [3] This study has no DOI and is published in a Russian-language journal, which limits accessibility for non-Russian researchers.
The mechanistic work is reasonably consistent: multiple studies point toward GABAergic modulation as a central mechanism, and the behavioral animal data on anxiolytic effects has been replicated across several labs. [2] [5] The gap is the near-complete absence of blinded, controlled human trials published in peer-reviewed English-language journals. Researchers interested in selank should treat the evidence as promising but preliminary by international clinical standards.
Typical research parameters
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Common vial sizes | 5 mg lyophilized powder (research vendors); 3 ml nasal spray vials (Russian pharmaceutical) |
| Supplied as | Lyophilized powder requiring reconstitution, or nasal spray solution (0.15%) |
| Storage | Refrigerated (2–8°C); protect from light |
| Stability | Lyophilized: 12–24 months; reconstituted solutions: use within 30 days refrigerated |
| Administration studied | Intranasal administration (approved Russian formulation); subcutaneous injection (animal studies) |
References
- [1] Konstantinopolsky MA, Chernyakova IV, Kolik LG. Selank, a Peptide Analog of Tuftsin, Attenuates Aversive Signs of Morphine Withdrawal in Rats. Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine. 2022;173. PubMed ↗
- [2] Kasian A, Kolomin T, Andreeva L, et al. Peptide Selank Enhances the Effect of Diazepam in Reducing Anxiety in Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Conditions in Rats. Behavioural neurology. 2017;2017. PubMed ↗
- [3] Medvedev VE, Tereshchenko ON, Israelian AIu, et al. [A comparison of the anxiolytic effect and tolerability of selank and phenazepam in the treatment of anxiety disorders]. Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova. 2014;114. PubMed ↗
- [4] Kolik LG, Nadorova AV, Antipova TA, et al. Selank, Peptide Analogue of Tuftsin, Protects Against Ethanol-Induced Memory Impairment by Regulating of BDNF Content in the Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex in Rats. Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine. 2019;167. PubMed ↗
- [5] Filatova E, Kasian A, Kolomin T, et al. GABA, Selank, and Olanzapine Affect the Expression of Genes Involved in GABAergic Neurotransmission in IMR-32 Cells. Frontiers in pharmacology. 2017;8. PubMed ↗