Brain peptides

Semax is a modified fragment of ACTH, a pituitary hormone, approved in Russia and studied there in stroke recovery and cognition. Selank is based on tuftsin, a natural immune peptide, and is approved in Russia for anxiety. Both stay at grade C despite these approvals, because the studies behind them are small, mostly from Russian groups, and not accepted by major regulators. In July 2026, FDA advisers voted 8–5–1 to recommend allowing Semax in pharmacy compounding.

NA-Semax Amidate and Adamax are modified versions of Semax with no peer-reviewed research of their own.

Dihexa (built from angiotensin IV, a fragment of a blood-pressure hormone), P-21 (derived from CNTF, a natural nerve-support protein) and PE-22-28 (a shortened version of spadin, a natural peptide studied in depression models) have only been studied in rats or mice (D). DSIP, the delta sleep-inducing peptide, has small human studies with mixed results, and FDA advisers voted 6–7–1 against compounding it in July 2026. Pinealon has mostly animal and cell data plus a few small human reports (C).

Brain peptides are often marketed as "nootropics" that boost memory or focus. That is an effect claim about people, and partners can't make it. Describe the research area instead: "studied in stroke-recovery research in Russia," or "studied in rodent memory models."