Compound research
Semax: Research Overview & Current Status
Semax is a ACTH(4-10) analog / nootropic neuropeptide. Current research status: approved (non-drug / other indication). Semax has been approved and commercially marketed in Russia since 1994 (on the Russian List of Vital & Essential Drugs) for ischemic stroke recovery, cognitive impairment, and certain optic nerve pathologies. It is not approved by the FDA, EMA, or other Western regulators, and most trial evidence comes from Russian-language clinical literature.
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TrustedPeps
Tracked$25.00 / 10mg($25.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 1, 2026
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Tracked$30.00 / 10mg($30.00 to 10mg)
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Tracked$30.00 / 10mg($30.00 to 10mg)
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Tracked$30.00 / 10mg($30.00 to 10mg)
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Tracked$31.99 / 10mg($31.99 to 10mg)
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Tracked$32.10 / 10mg($32.10 to 10mg)
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Tracked$32.37 / 10mg($32.37 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 24, 2026
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Tracked$32.39 / 10mg($32.39 to 10mg)
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Tracked$32.95 / 10mg($32.95 to 10mg)
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Tracked$34.99 / 10mg($34.99 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 7, 2026
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Tracked$34.99 / 10mg($34.99 to 10mg)
Checked May 14, 2026
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Tracked$34.99 / 10mg($34.99 to 10mg)
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Tracked$34.99 / 10mg($34.99 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 1, 2026
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Tracked$34.99 / 10mg($34.99 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 3, 2026
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Tracked$35.00 / 10mg($35.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jun 5, 2026
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Tracked$35.00 / 10mg($35.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 3, 2026
Check price at Optima Supply →NextGen Peptides
Tracked$35.00 / 10mg($35.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 24, 2026
Check price at NextGen Peptides →Atomik Labz
Tracked$35.00 / 10mg($35.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 4, 2026
Check price at Atomik Labz →GMR Peptides
Tracked$35.99 / 10mg($35.99 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 29, 2026
Check price at GMR Peptides →Pantheon Peptides
Tracked$36.00 / 10mg($36.00 to 10mg)
Checked Apr 23, 2026
Check price at Pantheon Peptides →Modern Aminos
Tracked$38.00 / 10mg($38.00 to 10mg)
Checked May 14, 2026
Check price at Modern Aminos →Peptide Giants
Tracked$38.49 / 10mg($38.49 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 1, 2026
Check price at Peptide Giants →RemedyX Labs
Tracked$39.00 / 10mg($39.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 1, 2026
Check price at RemedyX Labs →Apex Peptide Supply
Tracked$19.99 / 5mg($39.98 to 10mg)
Checked May 14, 2026
Check price at Apex Peptide Supply →Midwest Peptide
Tracked$39.99 / 10mg($39.99 to 10mg)
Checked Jun 18, 2026
Check price at Midwest Peptide →Arizen Bio Labs
Tracked$39.99 / 10mg($39.99 to 10mg)
Checked Jun 21, 2026
Check price at Arizen Bio Labs →Evo Labs Research
Tracked$39.99 / 10mg($39.99 to 10mg)
Checked Jun 22, 2026
Check price at Evo Labs Research →Global Aminos
Tracked$39.99 / 10mg($39.99 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 28, 2026
Check price at Global Aminos →Mile High Compounds
Tracked$39.99 / 10mg($39.99 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 3, 2026
Check price at Mile High Compounds →Vantyx Research
Tracked$40.00 / 10mg($40.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 15, 2026
Check price at Vantyx Research →Ignite Peptides
Tracked$40.00 / 10mg($40.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jun 12, 2026
Check price at Ignite Peptides →Step One Ventures
Tracked$40.00 / 10mg($40.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Check price at Step One Ventures →Ascending Labs
Tracked$40.00 / 10mg($40.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 25, 2026
Check price at Ascending Labs →Glacier Aminos
Tracked$40.99 / 10mg($40.99 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 31, 2026
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Tracked$41.99 / 10mg($41.99 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 15, 2026
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Tracked$42.50 / 10mg($42.50 to 10mg)
Checked Apr 6, 2026
Check price at Onyx Research →CertaPeptides
Tracked$42.71 / 10mg($42.71 to 10mg)
Checked Jun 27, 2026
Check price at CertaPeptides →Rivn Peptides
Tracked$44.99 / 10mg($44.99 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 14, 2026
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Tracked$45.00 / 10mg($45.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 20, 2026
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Tracked$45.00 / 10mg($45.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 31, 2026
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Tracked$45.00 / 10mg($45.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 1, 2026
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Tracked$45.00 / 10mg($45.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 7, 2026
Check price at Pepsynth Labs →Apex Peptides Lab
Tracked$49.00 / 10mg($49.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 15, 2026
Check price at Apex Peptides Lab →Liv Pure Wellness
Tracked$49.99 / 10mg($49.99 to 10mg)
Checked Apr 14, 2026
Check price at Liv Pure Wellness →Euno Labs Research
Tracked$49.99 / 10mg($49.99 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 25, 2026
Check price at Euno Labs Research →Evolve Peptides
Tracked$25.00 / 5mg($50.00 to 10mg)
Checked Apr 22, 2026
Check price at Evolve Peptides →$53.00 / 25mg($53.00 to 10mg)
Checked May 14, 2026
Check price at Biotech Peptides →Peptide Giants
Tracked$27.49 / 5mg($54.98 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 1, 2026
Check price at Peptide Giants →Eternal Peptides
Tracked$54.99 / 10mg($54.99 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 2, 2026
Check price at Eternal Peptides →$55.00 / 10mg($55.00 to 10mg)
Checked Apr 16, 2026
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Tracked$28.00 / 5mg($56.00 to 10mg)
Checked Apr 14, 2026
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Tracked$57.59 / 30mg($57.59 to 10mg)
Checked Apr 17, 2026
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Tracked$30.00 / 5mg($60.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 7, 2026
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Tracked$60.00 / 10mg($60.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 31, 2026
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Tracked$60.99 / 10mg($60.99 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 6, 2026
Check price at Swift Peptides →$63.00 / 25mg($63.00 to 10mg)
Checked Apr 16, 2026
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Tracked$64.99 / 10mg($64.99 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 23, 2026
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Tracked$65.00 / 10mg($65.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 31, 2026
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Tracked$65.00 / 10mg($65.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 2, 2026
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Tracked$32.99 / 5mg($65.98 to 10mg)
Checked Apr 6, 2026
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Tracked$68.40 / 10mg($68.40 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 31, 2026
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Tracked$34.99 / 5mg($69.98 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 2, 2026
Check price at Eternal Peptides →Axon Chems
Tracked$35.00 / 5mg($70.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 31, 2026
Check price at Axon Chems →PeakForce Labs
Tracked$35.00 / 5mg($70.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 15, 2026
Check price at PeakForce Labs →$74.00 / 10mg($74.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 31, 2026
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Tracked$37.01 / 5mg($74.02 to 10mg)
Checked Jun 27, 2026
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Tracked$77.00 / 10mg($77.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 5, 2026
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Tracked$78.33 / 10mg($78.33 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 16, 2026
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Tracked$39.60 / 5mg($79.20 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 31, 2026
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Tracked$40.00 / 5mg($80.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 31, 2026
Check price at UNYX Peptides →Orbitrex Peptides
Tracked$89.99 / 30mg($89.99 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 3, 2026
Check price at Orbitrex Peptides →Atomik Labz
Tracked$90.00 / 30mg($90.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 4, 2026
Check price at Atomik Labz →Apex Peptides Lab
Tracked$49.00 / 5mg($98.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 15, 2026
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Tracked$50.00 / 5mg($100.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 5, 2026
Check price at Nationwide Peptides →CertaPeptides
Tracked$102.52 / 30mg($102.52 to 10mg)
Checked Jun 27, 2026
Check price at CertaPeptides →PureBio Labs
Tracked$119.99 / 10mg($119.99 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 5, 2026
Check price at PureBio Labs →Apex Peptides
Tracked$120.00 / 30mg($120.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 31, 2026
Check price at Apex Peptides →Apex Peptides Lab
Tracked$129.00 / 30mg($129.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 15, 2026
Check price at Apex Peptides Lab →Alpha Peptides
Tracked$20.84 / 10mg($20.84 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 31, 2026
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Tracked$39.00 / 10mg($39.00 to 10mg)
Checked Aug 1, 2026
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Tracked$45.00 / 10mg($45.00 to 10mg)
Checked Jul 28, 2026
Check price at Offline Peptides →Semax price report
Semax currently costs as little as $20.84 to obtain 10mg, from Alpha Peptides. Across the 86 vendors we track, the typical cost to 10mg is $39.99, using each vendor's own cheapest listing. 83 of those vendors show current stock, and prices were checked through Aug 15, 2026.
- Lowest to 10mg
- $20.84
- Alpha Peptides
- Median to 10mg
- $39.99
- one offer per vendor
- Lowest package
- $19.95
- 5mg at ORA Labs
- Vendors tracked
- 86
- 83 in stock
Checked through Aug 15, 2026. Prices are aggregated from public vendor listings. Sources and data licensing are documented on our methodology page.
At a glance
- Category
- recovery
- Mechanism class
- Nootropic / neuropeptide
- Research phase
- Research / preclinical only
- NCAA status
- Not explicitly listed (catchall risk) — Russian nootropic heptapeptide (ACTH 4-7 analog); not on NCAA or WADA prohibited list. Catchall risk low given non-anabolic mechanism.
- WADA status
- Prohibited (WADA S2 — Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances)
Overview
Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) derived from the N-terminal fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH 4-10), engineered to retain neurotrophic and neuroprotective activity without hormonal effects. It has been studied primarily in Russia for cognitive and neurological recovery applications.
ACTH(4-10) analog / nootropic neuropeptide
Research timeline
1980s-1990s
Semax developed at the Russian Academy of Sciences as an ACTH(4-10) analog engineered for nootropic and neuroprotective activity.
Source →1994
Semax approved for clinical use in Russia and added to the Russian List of Vital & Essential Drugs.
Source →2001
Gusev et al. controlled clinical trial reported Semax accelerated neurological recovery in acute ischemic stroke patients.
Source →2000s-2010s
Russian clinical studies reported reduced infarct size, improved neurological scores, and accelerated functional recovery in ischemia models and stroke patients using intranasal Semax.
Source →2010s-2020s
Mechanistic studies identified BDNF/TrkB upregulation in the hippocampus and modulation of serotonergic/dopaminergic signaling as core pathways.
Source →2020s
Emerging preclinical interest in Semax's effects on amyloid-beta aggregation pathways relevant to Alzheimer's disease research, described as an early-stage area with limited data.
Source →
Active & recent research
Semax in acute ischemic stroke recovery
Neurological recovery outcomes and infarct-size reduction with intranasal administration during acute and rehabilitation phases
Semax mechanism of neuroprotection
BDNF/TrkB pathway upregulation, reduced excitotoxicity and oxidative stress in ischemia-reperfusion models
Semax and amyloid-beta pathology
Exploratory investigation of neuroprotective transcriptome modulation relevant to Alzheimer's-related pathways
Key findings
- A 2001 controlled clinical trial by Gusev and colleagues reported that Semax accelerated neurological recovery in patients with acute ischemic stroke, one of the most cited human data points for the compound.
- Multiple Russian clinical and preclinical studies have reported reduced infarct size and improved neurological/motor outcomes with intranasal Semax versus standard care alone, though this literature has not been independently replicated in large Western trials.
- Mechanistic research points to rapid BDNF and TrkB receptor upregulation in the hippocampus as a key driver of Semax's reported neuroprotective and cognitive effects.
- Reviewers note a significant evidence-geography gap: three decades of Semax research exist almost entirely within Russian clinical and pharmacological literature, limiting independent Western verification.
Safety & regulatory notes
Semax is an approved prescription drug in Russia but holds no FDA or EMA approval, meaning it is not a legally marketed drug in the U.S. or EU. Published Russian trial literature reports a favorable tolerability profile with no major adverse effects noted, but this has not been verified through independent Western regulatory review.
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Where it's sold for research
We haven't built a dedicated vendor-availability page for Semax yet. See our full research-peptide vendor rankings →
Semax FAQ
Is Semax FDA-approved?+
No. Semax is approved and prescribed in Russia for stroke recovery and cognitive impairment, but it has no FDA or EMA approval and is not a legally marketed drug in the U.S. or EU.
What clinical evidence supports Semax for stroke recovery?+
A 2001 controlled trial by Gusev et al. and subsequent Russian studies reported accelerated neurological recovery and reduced infarct size with intranasal Semax, though this evidence base has not been independently replicated in large Western randomized trials.
What is Semax's proposed mechanism?+
Research points to upregulation of BDNF and its TrkB receptor in the hippocampus, along with modulation of serotonergic and dopaminergic signaling, as the primary mechanisms studied for its neuroprotective and cognitive effects.
Has Semax been studied for Alzheimer's disease?+
There is early, limited mechanistic interest in Semax's effects on amyloid-beta pathways relevant to Alzheimer's research, but sources describe this as an emerging area lacking substantial data, not an established finding.
Sources for this page (3)
Researched together
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