Semax
OtherAlso known as ACTH (4-10) analogue, N-acetyl semax
Evidence tier
Multiple human trials
4 human trials
- Researched since
- 1981
- Publications
- 230
- Mean purity
- 99.6%
- Vendors listing
- 22
ZC Labs shows the highest mean assayed purity for Semax at 100.0% across 1 lot record. Purity figures below come from the certificates named in each row.
Score breakdown
The score has two halves: the research base — how long the compound has been studied and how much has been published — and the quality of the evidence the market produces for it, aggregated across every vendor that carries it: assayed purity, lot-to-lot consistency, readable third-party certificates and those vendors’ review record. It measures the evidence base, not the merits or safety of the substance.
Studied since 1981 — 45 years of published research
How long the compound has been studied. Fifteen years or more of published literature earns full marks; a newer compound earns less.
230 publications indexed in PubMed
The volume of published literature located. Full marks at fifty or more publications.
Mean assayed purity 99.6% across 21 certificates
Average assayed purity on the certificates published by vendors that carry this compound. Full marks at 99.5%+, nothing at 95% or below.
±0.27 pts purity across lots, mean label deviation 13.8%
How tightly assayed purity and labeled-versus-actual mass hold across different lots. Rewards reproducible manufacturing.
22 of 22 listing vendors publish an accessible certificate policy
Whether the vendors carrying this compound publish per-lot certificates anyone can read without an account.
21 of 21 certificates from a recognised independent lab
Share of certificates issued by a recognised third-party testing lab rather than an unnamed or self-named one.
What is Semax?
A synthetic peptide derived from a fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH 4-10), studied in relation to cognition and neuroprotection. It was developed in Russia.
Studied in published research for cognition, focus and neuroprotection.
Regulatory status
Labeled by vendors for laboratory research use only. Not approved as a medicine in the United States, United Kingdom, or European Union.
What the research examines
The areas of published research this compound appears in. These describe what the literature has studied — never a claim of benefit, effect or suitability for any use.
Published research
Studied in animal models and in human clinical research conducted in Russia. PepIndex does not evaluate clinical significance and does not describe administration.
- Functional Connectomic Approach to Studying Selank and Semax Effects — Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections (2020)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Doklady biological sciences : proceedings of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological sciences sections (2020).
- Semax peptide targets the μ opioid receptor gene Oprm1 to promote deubiquitination and functional recovery after spinal cord injury in female mice — British journal of pharmacology (2025)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in British journal of pharmacology (2025).
- Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions — Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews (2026)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews (2026).
- Semax, synthetic ACTH(4-10) analogue, attenuates behavioural and neurochemical alterations following early-life fluvoxamine exposure in white rats — Neuropeptides (2021)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Neuropeptides (2021).
- Semax, a Synthetic Regulatory Peptide, Affects Copper-Induced Abeta Aggregation and Amyloid Formation in Artificial Membrane Models — ACS chemical neuroscience (2022)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in ACS chemical neuroscience (2022).
- Semax, a Copper Chelator Peptide, Decreases the Cu(II)-Catalyzed ROS Production and Cytotoxicity of aβ by Metal Ion Stripping and Redox Silencing — Bioinorganic chemistry and applications (2025)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Bioinorganic chemistry and applications (2025).
- Semax and Pro-Gly-Pro activate the transcription of neurotrophins and their receptor genes after cerebral ischemia — Cellular and molecular neurobiology (2010)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Cellular and molecular neurobiology (2010).
- Semax, an ACTH(4-10) analogue with nootropic properties, activates dopaminergic and serotoninergic brain systems in rodents — Neurochemical research (2005)
Peer-reviewed article indexed in PubMed, published in Neurochemical research (2005).
Indexed studies4 human-evidence of 4
- [The study of chronic partial denervation and quality of life in patients with motor neuron disease treated with semax] — Human — controlled trial, 2007
The study of chronic partial denervation (CPD) and quality of life was carried out in 27 patients with definite, probable and possible diagnosis of motor neuron disease (MND) treated with semax (1% solution). The needle electromyography (EMG) was performed thrice with short-term 2 month interval (60 days before enrollment and on day 1 and day 48 of the study) in three muscles on bulbar, cervical and lumbosacral levels on the less affected side. According to Revised El-Escoria…
- [The efficacy of semax in the tretament of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke] — Human — controlled trial, 2018
To evaluate the efficacy of semax and timing of rehabilitation on the dynamics of plasma BDNF levels, motor performance, and Barthel index score in patients after ischemic stroke (IS). One hundred and ten patients after IS (43 men, 67 women, mean age 58.0±9.7, Ме 63 years) were examined. All patients were divided into early (89±9 days) and late (214±22 days) rehabilitation groups. Each group was subdivided into semax+ and semax- subgroups. Standard …
- [Effectiveness of semax in acute period of hemispheric ischemic stroke (a clinical and electrophysiological study)] — Human — controlled trial, 1997
Efficiency of Semax (synthetic derivative of ACTH-4-10) was studied in 30 patients in acute period of hemispherical ischemic stroke. Control group consisted of 80 patients with the strokes analogous in severity and location of the damages and which were treated by conventional therapy. Different clinical rating scales were used for both objectivization of the severity of the patients' state and estimation of the degree of neurological defect. The control of Semax influence on…
- [Evaluation of therapeutic effect of new Russian drug semax in optic nerve disease] — Human — controlled trial, 2000
Semax is a synthetic analog of adrenocorticotropic hormone 4-10 with a pronounced nootropic effect. It was used in the treatment of vascular, toxic allergic, and inflammatory diseases of the optic nerve and partial atrophy of the optic nerve in parallel with basic neurotrophic and antiinflammatory therapy. For evaluating the drug efficiency, the patients were divided into 3 groups, administered the drug via different routes. In group 1 semax was administered intransally as na…
Evidence digest
What the research on Semax actually shows
The indexed literature on Semax includes human clinical or observational records (4 human-clinical or observational records). This digest describes the shape of that evidence and links the records behind it. It does not judge whether Semax is safe or effective for any purpose, and nothing here is medical advice — the material sold by the vendors in this index is labeled for laboratory research use only.
3 things the literature does not establish →
PepIndex describes what literature exists. We do not interpret it, assess clinical significance, or publish quantities, protocols or instructions for use.
Vendor comparison
| Vendor | Score here | Price / mg | Certificates | Mean purity | Label deviation | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CuroISO/IEC 17025 | 93.877% | — | 1 | 99.6% | 3.0% | |
| Polaris PeptidesISO/IEC 17025 | 93.877% | — | 1 | 99.7% | 28.3% | |
| Ascend ScienceISO/IEC 17025 | 90.291% | — | 1 | 99.6% | 42.3% | |
| PeptidePlugs | 89.790% | — | 4 | 99.8% | 14.1% | |
| Koi Peptides | 84.394% | $4.00 (77%) | 3 | 99.5% | 3.5% | |
| American PeptidesISO/IEC 17025 | 81.4100% | $6.50 (126%) | 2 | 99.8% | 9.7% | |
| Northline LabsISO/IEC 17025 | 79.493% | — | 1 | 99.2% | 3.1% | |
| NeuroLabs Research | 79.386% | — | 1 | 99.2% | 1.1% | |
| ZC Labs | 79.384% | — | 1 | 100.0% | 14.1% | |
| BioLongevity Labs | 79.274% | $3.25 (63%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Ascension Peptides | 78.886% | $5.00 (97%) | 1 | 99.8% | 1.2% | |
| Protide Health | 74.994% | $7.50 (145%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Modern AminosISO/IEC 17025 | 74100% | — | 2 | 99.6% | 32.5% | |
| Simple Peptide | 7489% | — | 1 | 99.1% | 26.9% | |
| Next Gen PeptidesISO/IEC 17025 | 73.897% | $8.75 (169%) | 1 | 99.8% | 3.9% | |
| Good Science Bio | 71.575% | $5.34 (103%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Improved Peptides | 7189% | $4.90 (95%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Vertex Labs | 70.170% | — | 1 | 99.9% | 13.8% | |
| Mile High Compounds | 68.694% | $4.00 (77%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Eternal Peptides | 66.765% | $5.00 (97%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Sports Technology Labs | 5774% | $8.00 (155%) | 0 | — | — | |
| Evolve Peptides | 5767% | $7.50 (145%) | 0 | — | — |
Certificate records
| Vendor | Lot | Tested | Lab | Labeled | Assayed | Discrepancy | Purity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertex Labs | 2608190851 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 11.38 mg | 13.8% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| PeptidePlugs | 101310L-DK | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 10.81 mg | 8.1% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| Ascend Science | AS-XA5-2 | Kovera Labs and/or ILS Labs | 10 mg | 5.77 mg | 42.3% | 99.6% | Vendor-published | |
| NeuroLabs Research | NL01-SEMX10R | Analysis FreedomDiagnostics | 10 mg | 9.89 mg | 1.1% | 99.2% | Vendor-published | |
| Modern Aminos | BX-P-U3M0 | Analysis FreedomDiagnostics | 20 mg | 11.83 mg | 40.8% | 99.6% | Vendor-published | |
| PeptidePlugs | 148-03-DK | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 12.28 mg | 22.8% | 99.8% | Vendor-published | |
| ZC Labs | ZCLa2606260481 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 11.41 mg | 14.1% | 100.0% | Vendor-published | |
| American Peptides | SEMX10-0528 | Bioviridian Inc. | 10 mg | 10.68 mg | 6.8% | 99.9% | Vendor-published | |
| Modern Aminos | BX-P-K5T1 | Analysis FreedomDiagnostics | 10 mg | 12.41 mg | 24.1% | 99.7% | Vendor-published | |
| Koi Peptides | 612026SM | Freedom Diagnostics | 11 mg | 10.66 mg | 3.1% | 99.7% | Vendor-published | |
| Curo | SEM10SR526 | BTLabs | 10 mg | 10.3 mg | 3.0% | 99.6% | Vendor-published | |
| Northline Labs | NLL-3157061 | Horizon Analytical | 10 mg | 9.69 mg | 3.1% | 99.2% | Vendor-published | |
| Next Gen Peptides | SMX-09 | ILS Laboratories | 10 mg | 10.39 mg | 3.9% | 99.8% | Vendor-published | |
| PeptidePlugs | 122-A-S | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 10.87 mg | 8.7% | 99.8% | Vendor-published | |
| Simple Peptide | SEMX10-042026-3 | FreedomDiagnosticsTesting.com | 10 mg | 12.69 mg | 26.9% | 99.1% | Vendor-published | |
| Koi Peptides | 665394 | Freedom Diagnostics | 10 mg | 9.98 mg | 0.2% | 99.8% | Vendor-published | |
| Koi Peptides | 42206SM | Freedom Diagnostics | 11 mg | 11.8 mg | 7.3% | 99.0% | Vendor-published | |
| American Peptides | SEMX10-0318 | Excellence in HPLC-MS Analysis | 10 mg | 11.26 mg | 12.6% | 99.8% | Vendor-published | |
| PeptidePlugs | 2603100107 | Freedom Diagnostics Testing | 10 mg | 11.69 mg | 16.9% | 99.7% | Vendor-published | |
| Ascension Peptides | 30-01260229 | MZ Biolabs | 10 mg | 10.12 mg | 1.2% | 99.8% | Vendor-published | |
| Polaris Peptides | POL-S5-7 | TrustPointe Analytics LLC | 5 mg | 6.42 mg | 28.3% | 99.7% | Vendor-published |