Reference
What is Semax?
Semax is a heptapeptide built on the ACTH(4–10) fragment — a short section of adrenocorticotropic hormone — with a modification at one end intended to make the molecule more stable than the natural fragment.
Classification
| Type | Peptide |
| Chain length | 7 amino acid residues |
| Family | ACTH fragment analogue |
| Origin | Developed in Russia, from work on adrenocorticotropic hormone fragments in the 1980s |
| Supplied as | Lyophilised powder in a sealed vial |
It is one of a family of Russian-developed peptides that share this design approach: take a short, biologically interesting sequence from a larger hormone, then alter it so it survives longer. Selank comes from the same tradition.
Where it sits by length
At 7 residues, Semax is a short chain — an oligopeptide by the usual convention. The boundary is a convention, not a rule of chemistry — chains up to roughly fifty residues are generally called peptides.
What this page does not cover
Nothing here describes what Semax does, what it is used for, or whether it is safe. We publish analytical results and ship parcels; we give no guidance on dosing, preparation or use, and that applies to our reference pages as much as to the product pages. The person to ask about any of that is a registered prescriber.
Where it came from
Semax came out of a Soviet programme with a consistent method: take a short fragment of a larger natural molecule, then bolt a Pro-Gly-Pro tail onto it so enzymes cannot get at it.
The 1980s — Moscow. When was Semax created?
Further reading
Semax vs Selank — two Russian siblings: same length and tail, different parents.
More on Semax
See Semax in the range · What is a peptide? · Discovery timeline · All reference
