Last updated 18 September 2026 · SARMs Store editorial team. Products on this site are supplied strictly for laboratory research and are not for human consumption. This guide summarises published research; it is not medical advice and contains no instructions for use. 18+ only.
Selank at a glance
| Class | Heptapeptide analogue of tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) |
|---|---|
| Developed by | Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1990s |
| Highest evidence | Licensed in Russia as a nasal solution for anxiety; small Russian trials against benzodiazepines |
| Studied for | Anxiety-like behaviour, GABA receptor modulation, immune signalling in rodents |
| Format | Lyophilised vial (5mg) |
| Storage | 2 to 8°C unopened, away from light |
| UK status 2026 | Research chemical; not a UK-licensed medicine; not named on the WADA list |
What Selank is
Selank is a synthetic analogue of tuftsin, a four-amino-acid fragment of immunoglobulin G that modulates immune cells, with the same proline-glycine-proline tail used in Semax to slow breakdown. It was developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow and registered in Russia in 2009 as a nasal solution for generalised anxiety and adjustment disorders. It came from the same programme as Semax and is usually discussed alongside it.
What the research found
Russian clinical trials. Zozulya and colleagues published trials in the 2000s comparing Selank with the benzodiazepine medazepam in patients with anxiety disorders, reporting comparable reductions in anxiety scores without sedation or dependence. The trials were small and Russian-language, and no independent replication has been published in the West.
Mechanism. Rodent and cell studies report that Selank alters expression of GABA-A receptor subunits and modulates the balance of inflammatory cytokines, particularly interleukin-6. A 2016 study reported that it affected the same receptor pathways as benzodiazepines but through a different mechanism.
What is missing. No English-language, placebo-controlled trial in healthy adults. The immune findings have not been taken beyond animal models.
Selank and Semax
Bought together, studied separately. Selank is the anxiety-related peptide of the pair; Semax the attention-related one. Both are Russian nasal medicines with no Western licence.
Stability, storage and handling
Supplied lyophilised in a sealed vial. Keep unopened vials at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius or frozen for long storage, away from light. Reconstituted solutions degrade over days to weeks. The certificate should show HPLC purity and mass spectrometry identity.
Legal status in the UK, 2026
Not a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. No UK or EU marketing authorisation, so not a licensed medicine in the UK and cannot be sold or advertised for human use; supplied strictly for laboratory research. Not named on the WADA Prohibited List.
What to check before buying
Milligrams per vial, HPLC purity, mass spectrometry identity, a batch number matching the certificate, and cold-chain shipping. Every Origin Peptides batch is independently tested and its certificate of analysis is published on the product page and the Lab Testing page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Selank a benzodiazepine?
No. It is a peptide. Russian trials compared it with a benzodiazepine, which is where the confusion comes from.
Is Selank licensed anywhere?
In Russia, as a nasal solution. Not in the UK, EU or US.
What does tuftsin have to do with it?
Selank is built on the tuftsin sequence, an immune-modulating fragment of immunoglobulin G, which is why immune effects appear in the animal literature.
Is Selank legal in the UK?
Legal to buy and possess as a research compound; not lawful to sell or advertise for human consumption.
Key references
Zozulya AA, Neznamov GG, Syunyakov TS, et al. Efficacy and possible mechanisms of action of a new peptide anxiolytic Selank in the therapy of generalized anxiety disorders and neurasthenia. Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova. 2008;108(4):38-48. Volkova A, Shadrina M, Kolomin T, et al. Selank administration affects the expression of some genes involved in GABAergic neurotransmission. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2016;7:31.
Related guides
- Semax research guide
- SARMs vs peptides: what the research compares
- How to read a certificate of analysis
- SARMs 101 hub
Research products: Origin Peptides Selank 5mg · Semax 5mg · Full Origin Peptides range · Lab Testing