Research background · Updated November 1, 2026
Semax Research: Publications, Study Types and Background
Short answer
Semax is listed as synthetic heptapeptide: ACTH(4-7) extended by Pro-Gly-Pro. As of November 1, 2026, PubMed indexes 210 records matching Semax, the earliest from 1981; 26 were published in 2021–2025 and 11 are reviews. ClinicalTrials.gov lists 0 registered studies matching the compound.
- PubMed records
- 210
- Earliest record
- 1981
- Published 2021–2025
- 26
- Reviews
- 11
- Animal-only studies
- 145
- Registered studies
- 0
Publications per year, 2006–2025
56 records in 2016–2025 against 85 in 2006–2015; the busiest year was 2006, with 15.
See the numbers
| Year | PubMed records |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 8 |
Study types
| All PubMed records | 210 |
|---|---|
| Reviews | 115% |
| Animal studies (no human subjects indexed) | 14569% |
| Indexed as clinical trials | 42% |
| Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov | 0 |
Categories overlap and follow PubMed’s own indexing; recent records may not be indexed yet.
Primary research directions
What 7 of the most-cited and most recent Semax papers report, in their own authors’ terms. Each line links the paper it came from.
This narrative review of nine peptides studied in aging research groups Semax under neuroprotection and notes that the non-approved peptides showed promising preclinical but limited clinical evidence and lack long-term safety data and systematic validation.
ReviewMavrych V 2026Frontiers in agingPMID 42021992
This overview of 15 years of semax research, an ACTH(4-10) analogue, describes reports that the peptide stimulated memory and attention, increased resistance to hypoxia and improved brain circulation in experimental animals and humans, with no negative side actions described in the reported cases.
ReviewAsmarin IP 1997Zhurnal vysshei nervnoi deiatelnosti imeni I P PavlovaPMID 9173745
In rats with transient cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, RNA-Seq identified 394 genes differentially expressed with Semax versus saline; Semax was associated with suppressed inflammation-related genes and activated neurotransmission-related genes, which the authors suggest may relate to its neuroprotective action.
RatsFilippenkov IB 2020GenesPMID 32580520
In rats with permanent focal brain ischemia, genome-wide analysis found that Semax predominantly enhanced expression of immune-related genes, notably those encoding immunoglobulins and chemokines, and altered vascular-system genes; the authors propose these as likely mechanisms of its neuroprotective effects.
RatsMedvedeva EV 2014BMC genomicsPMID 24661604
In rats with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion, Semax and its Pro-Gly-Pro fragment both activated transcription of neurotrophins and their receptors in the cortex, with Semax's effects described as selective to ischemic cortex and those of Pro-Gly-Pro as mainly unspecific.
RatsDmitrieva VG 2010Cellular and molecular neurobiologyPMID 19633950
In the rat hippocampus, Semax was reported to increase BDNF protein, trkB phosphorylation and BDNF and trkB mRNA levels, and treated animals showed more conditioned avoidance reactions; the authors suggest Semax affects cognitive function via the hippocampal BDNF/trkB system.
RatsDolotov OV 2006Brain researchPMID 16996037
In glial cell cultures from the basal forebrain of newborn rats, Semax rapidly increased mRNA levels of the neurotrophins BDNF and NGF, with the greatest increase observed shortly after exposure.
CellsShadrina MI 2001Neuroscience lettersPMID 11457573
Most-studied topics
The Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) PubMed indexers most often marked as a main topic, across 210 of the 210 records. They describe what the literature is about, not what Semax does.
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone142 papers
- Neuroprotective Agents59 papers
- Nootropic Agents31 papers
- Brain Ischemia25 papers
- Brain19 papers
- Proline16 papers
- Behavior, Animal12 papers
- Stress, Psychological10 papers
Key papers
Earliest indexed record
Schuh FT (1981). Der Anaesthesist.
PMID 6455927Most-cited paper · 53 citations
Asmarin IP (1997). Zhurnal vysshei nervnoi deiatelnosti imeni I P Pavlova.
PMID 9173745Most-cited #2 · 39 citations
Charleston-Villalobos S (2004). Medical & biological engineering & computing.
PMID 15503962Most-cited #3 · 35 citations
Shadrina MI (2001). Neuroscience letters.
PMID 11457573
Citation counts from NIH iCite, among the 210 records sampled. Titles are left out; open each record on PubMed to read it.
Identity
| Synonyms and codes | ACTH(4-7)-Pro-Gly-Pro |
|---|---|
| Description | Synthetic heptapeptide: ACTH(4-7) extended by Pro-Gly-Pro |
| Supplied form | Lyophilized powder |
| CAS number | 80714-61-0 |
| Molecular formula | C37H51N9O10S |
| Molecular weight | 813.9 g/mol |
| Sequence | MEHFPGP (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) |
As published by Vanta Labs, with its sources, on the Semax page.
How these numbers were counted
- PubMed search, run November 1, 2026:
semax[tiab]re-run it. Study types add PubMed’s own filters (review, clinical trial, animals not humans). - Topics: MeSH major-topic headings counted across up to 400 of the matching records; headings for study set-up (species, sex, age) are left out.
- Citations: NIH iCite citation counts for the same records.
- ClinicalTrials.gov search:
semaxre-run it. Any phase, any status.
This page reports what has been published and what papers say they found, with each source linked. It gives no dosing or usage information, and nothing here is a reason to use Semax outside a laboratory.
Wholesale supply
Semax for research, documented lot by lot.
10mg vials, with a published report printing 99.436% HPLC purity. Every wholesale lot comes with its certificate of analysis, and your quote names the lot. Pricing on inquiry.
Semax research questions
How much research has been published on Semax?
PubMed indexes 210 records matching Semax (searched November 1, 2026), including 11 reviews and 4 records indexed as clinical trials. 26 were published in the five years 2021–2025.
When was Semax first described in the literature?
The earliest PubMed record matching Semax is from 1981 (Schuh FT, Der Anaesthesist, PMID 6455927).
What topics does the Semax literature cover?
The subject headings PubMed indexers most often marked as a main topic of Semax papers are Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Neuroprotective Agents, Nootropic Agents, Brain Ischemia. These describe what the literature is about. Findings from individual papers, with their sources, are summarized on this page.
What is the regulatory status of Semax?
Semax is not listed as an approved drug in the FDA's Drugs@FDA database (searched 24 September 2026).
Is Semax sold for human use?
No. Vanta Foundry supplies it for laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use, and not a drug, food, cosmetic or dietary supplement.
Where can I buy Semax wholesale for research?
From the Vanta Foundry wholesale catalog: add it to your list, choose sizes and the number of vials, and send it on WhatsApp or by email. Every wholesale lot comes with a certificate of analysis.
Research materials supplied by Vanta Foundry are for laboratory research use only. They are not for human or veterinary use and are not drugs, foods, cosmetics or dietary supplements. Websites and payment processing are business services for research-supply brands.
All compounds: research peptide publication statistics.