Selank Research Peptide

What Is Selank?

Selank is a seven-amino-acid peptide designed from tuftsin, a short immune peptide (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) that the body cleaves from the heavy chain of immunoglobulin G. On its own, tuftsin breaks down within minutes. Selank keeps tuftsin’s four amino acids and adds Pro-Gly-Pro to the end, a sequence that slows enzyme breakdown and gives the peptide a much longer working life in research models.

Selank was developed in Moscow at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in a program that also produced Semax. It has been registered for clinical use in Russia, but it is not approved in the US. The FDA placed Selank acetate in Category 2 of its compounding list in September 2023, and it was not among the peptides the FDA sent to its advisory panel in 2026. Here’s why Selank was left out of the 2026 review.

Because of its tuftsin origin, Selank sits between two research fields: immunology and neuroscience. Most published work examines anxiety-related behavior, neurotrophic signaling and immune gene expression in animal models. It is often studied alongside Semax, its closest relative. See Semax vs Selank for how the two compare.

This product is strictly for research purposes only. Not approved for human or animal use.

Key Characteristics

Molecular Profile

Physical Properties

Selank in Published Research

Most Selank research is preclinical and much of it comes from Russian research groups. Rodent studies have examined its effects on anxiety-related and stress-related behavior, and on learning and memory tasks. One frequently cited study reported that intranasal Selank changed BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) expression in the rat hippocampus, which is why Selank appears in neurotrophic research.

Other work has looked at how Selank interacts with the body’s own signaling systems. Researchers reported that Selank and Semax inhibit enzymes in human serum that break down enkephalins, the body’s natural opioid peptides. Studies in mice have tracked changes in inflammation-related gene expression after Selank, connecting back to its tuftsin origin. Small clinical studies, mostly published in Russian, have also been reported.

As with most research peptides, these findings are early-stage and should be read as research observations rather than established effects. For related compounds studied in the same areas, see peptides for sleep research.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Selank studied for in research?

Selank is studied mainly in preclinical models of anxiety-related behavior, BDNF expression, enkephalin metabolism and immune gene expression.

What is the difference between Selank and Semax?

Both were developed at the same Russian institute and share a Pro-Gly-Pro tail. Selank is built on tuftsin, an immune peptide; Semax is built on a fragment of ACTH. In July 2026, an FDA advisory panel recommended Semax for compounding; Selank was not reviewed.

What is tuftsin?

Tuftsin is a natural four-amino-acid peptide (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) released from immunoglobulin G. It forms the first four residues of Selank.

Is Selank FDA approved?

No. Selank is not approved in the US. It has been registered for clinical use in Russia. This product is for laboratory research only.

What is included in a Selank kit?

Each kit contains 10 vials of lyophilized Selank. Every batch is verified by HPLC and mass spectrometry, and the lot COA is available on request. Learn how to read a peptide COA.

How should Selank be stored?

Refrigerated at 2–8 °C (36–46 °F), sealed, dry and away from light. For long-term storage, −20 °C.