The Peptide Atlas
Semax
A seven-amino-acid peptide built from a fragment of ACTH, a brain signaling hormone, with the hormonal activity removed. Also a nasal spray, also Russian.
Class
ACTH-fragment neuropeptide
Evidence
Human-tested
Status
Approved in Russia; studied in research settings elsewhere.
Forms
Nasal spray
What people use it for
Focus and cognitive sharpness, and by some for brain recovery after injury or stroke.
The signal
The fragment it's built on influences attention and memory circuits, and semax raises BDNF, a growth factor neurons use to maintain and rewire themselves [1].
How it works
Taken nasally, it reaches the brain and shifts expression of genes tied to neuroprotection and inflammation, the machinery of neural upkeep rather than stimulation [1].
What the research shows
In Russia it's an approved stroke drug, with clinical studies across stages of ischemic stroke [2] and earlier work in cognitive demand settings. The same caveat as any single-country literature applies unchanged: one research tradition, no independent Western replication.
What people get wrong
That it's a stimulant. Users seeking an Adderall-like kick are in the wrong aisle; the Russian framing is closer to a neuroprotective, a molecule for the brain's repair and maintenance chemistry.
References
- Genes (2020). Novel insights into the protective properties of ACTH(4-7)PGP (Semax) peptide at the transcriptome level following cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion in rats. PubMed
- Gusev EI et al., Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr (2018). The efficacy of semax in the treatment of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke. PubMed
Last reviewed 2026-08-24. Every reference is verified against the primary literature at review time. How the Atlas grades evidence