Synthetic heptapeptide
Selank
A synthetic research peptide also described as selank acetate or TP-7; online claims extend beyond the limited human evidence.
Why it is discussed
Anxiety, cognition, and stress-response claims
Selank is discussed for anxiety, cognition, mood, and stress-response claims. PubMed indexes a small Russian-language comparative trial in 62 patients with generalized anxiety disorder or neurasthenia. That evidence is geographically concentrated and difficult to generalize, and it does not establish a broadly accepted clinical benefit, product standard, dosing approach, or long-term safety profile.
What it is
An experimental seven-amino-acid peptide.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide with the sequence threonine-lysine-proline-arginine-proline-glycine-proline. It is an extended analog of tuftsin, an immune-signaling peptide. Its proposed nervous-system effects are a separate research question; structural ancestry does not establish a clinical anxiety treatment.
How it works
Proposed modulation of GABA-related signaling.
GABA is a major inhibitory chemical messenger in the brain. Rat experiments found changes in genes involved in neurotransmission after Selank exposure, with some similarities to changes following GABA exposure. Gene-expression overlap suggests a possible pathway but does not prove the same clinical action.
Receptor-binding experiments also reported modulation of GABA binding. The proposed explanation involves allosteric modulation: changing how a receptor responds rather than simply replacing its usual messenger. The exact therapeutic mechanism in humans remains uncertain.
These findings do not show that Selank is equivalent to a benzodiazepine, or that it avoids dependence, cognitive effects, or other risks. Cell and animal results cannot establish the benefit or safety of a nasal or injectable product.
Scientific / evidence sources
Evidence at a glance
What is established—and what is not.
Small, geographically concentrated human comparative evidence
A small Russian-language comparative trial examined Selank in 62 patients with generalized anxiety disorder or neurasthenia.
Broad clinical effectiveness, a standardized product, dose selection, product equivalence, and long-term human safety remain unestablished.
Regulatory status
Canada and the United States are checked separately.
No Health Canada-authorized human drug was identified in the current Drug Product Database review.
No FDA-approved product was identified. FDA describes peptide-impurity and immunogenicity concerns and says important human safety information is lacking for selank acetate.
Regulatory status describes product authorization and relevant regulatory context. It is not a complete legal opinion about possession, importation, prescribing, sale, or professional practice.
If you are reviewing a product report
The molecule profile and the testing report answer different questions.
This page summarizes evidence and regulatory context. A laboratory report may address identity, purity, or quantity for one submitted sample; it does not transfer clinical evidence or product authorization.