Semax

Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide developed in the 1980s at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is a modified fragment of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH 4-7) with a Pro-Gly-Pro tail that protects it from enzymatic degradation. It is one of the most clinically studied nootropic peptides in the world — used in Russia and parts of Eastern Europe as a registered medication for stroke recovery, cognitive dysfunction, and optic nerve disorders. Outside those regions it is sold strictly for laboratory research.

Semax is the most famous focus-and-memory peptide in the research world. Developed by Russian scientists as a stable, non-hormonal piece of ACTH, it is used intranasally and produces noticeable cognitive effects — sharper focus, improved working memory, better mood — within minutes for many users. It has decades of clinical use in Russia for stroke recovery and is one of the few research peptides with substantial published human data.

Semax acts on multiple brain systems: it upregulates BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) and NGF (nerve growth factor) within hours, modulates dopaminergic and serotonergic signaling in the prefrontal cortex, and activates the melanocortin system without hormonal HPA effects. The combined neurotrophic and neurotransmitter effects underlie its acute focus benefits and longer-term neuroprotective profile.

Synthetic peptide analog of ACTH. Elevates BDNF. Acute focus and memory effects.

1. Semax
2. CNS receptor systems (melanocortin, BDNF, GABAergic or sleep-regulating)
3. Neurotransmitter and neurotrophic signalling
4. Cognition, mood, sleep and libido research endpoints

A plain-English read on how much published evidence currently exists for Semax. These ratings describe the volume and maturity of the literature — not effectiveness, safety, or suitability for any use.

Current limitations: most compounds in this category are studied in preclinical or small-sample settings. Absence of large controlled human trials is the single biggest limitation to keep in mind when reading any summary of Semax.

Lyophilized compounds are supplied as a dry powder. Concentration is simply the total amount in the vial divided by the volume of bacteriostatic water added:

Concentration (mg/mL) = total mg in vial ÷ mL of diluent added

Commonly supplied vial sizes

Nasal spray (typically 0.1% or 1mg/mL solution)

Worked concentration example

Usually pre-mixed as nasal spray. 1mg/mL means 1 spray (~50µL) = 50mcg.

Run your own numbers with the reconstitution calculator — it converts vial size and diluent volume into mg/mL and mcg/mL.

The figures below are reported here descriptively, because they are the values most frequently cited in publicly available research literature and reference material. They are not instructions, not a protocol, and not a recommendation. These compounds are supplied for laboratory research use only and are not approved by the FDA for human consumption.

Commonly cited amounts

300–600mcg daily (split throughout day intranasally)

Commonly cited frequency

Daily, multiple administrations

Commonly cited study duration

2–4 weeks

Peptides are supplied freeze-dried because peptide bonds degrade far faster in solution than in a dry state. Understanding storage is part of understanding why the powder form exists at all.

• •Lyophilized powder: stored refrigerated, typically stable for months to years.
• •Reconstituted solution: refrigerated at 2–8°C, generally discussed as stable for roughly 30–60 days.
• •Heat and direct light accelerate degradation — vials are kept cool and dark.
• •Reconstituted material is not re-frozen; ice crystal formation disrupts peptide structure.
• •Bacteriostatic water contains 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a preservative, which is what allows multi-day storage after reconstitution.

More detail in the storage & handling guide and how peptide quality is evaluated.

• •Ischemic stroke recovery (Russian clinical use)
• •Cognitive function and memory
• •BDNF and NGF upregulation
• •Optic neuropathy
• •ADHD and attention research
• •Anxiety and mood regulation

Semax is the default 'try this first' peptide in nootropic communities — r/Nootropics, LongeCity, biohacking subreddits. Users describe rapid noticeable focus and motivation effects. Most run short cycles (2–4 weeks) followed by breaks. The intranasal format is convenient compared with injectables. N-Acetyl Semax Amidate (NASA) is a longer-acting variant frequently discussed.

“Russian focus peptide that hits like a clean cup of coffee.”

Frequently combined with Selank for focus + calm together, with NAD+ precursors and Dihexa in longer cognitive stacks, and with Cerebrolysin cycles for restorative neurological research.

Semax is a Russian-developed heptapeptide nootropic derived from ACTH 4-7, used intranasally for focus, memory, and stroke recovery research. It upregulates BDNF and NGF, has decades of clinical use in Russia, and is sold for laboratory research elsewhere.