Overview
Choose your reading level:
In plain language
Selank is a lab-made peptide of 7 amino acids developed in Russia. It is based on tuftsin, a small natural peptide that is part of the immune system.
In Russia it is approved as a nasal spray for anxiety. Most of the research comes from Russian groups and has not been confirmed in large international trials. It is not FDA-approved in the United States.
For students
Selank (TKPRPGP, about 752 Da) was developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It joins tuftsin (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg, an immunomodulatory fragment of IgG) to a Pro-Gly-Pro tail that slows its breakdown.
Proposed mechanisms from animal studies include modulation of GABA-A receptor signaling, inhibition of enkephalin-degrading enzymes, and changes in BDNF and inflammatory cytokine (for example IL-6) expression.
For researchers and instructors
Human evidence. Small clinical studies, mostly published in Russian, report anxiolytic effects comparable to benzodiazepines without sedation. Independent randomized controlled trials are lacking.
Pharmacokinetics. Very short plasma half-life; intranasal delivery is the studied route.
Regulatory. Approved in Russia; not FDA-approved in the United States.
Molecular identity
- Amino acids
- 7
- Molecular weight
- ~751.9 Da
- Formula
- Form-dependent; verify
- Sequence
- TKPRPGP
Sequence map
Hydropathy
Kyte–Doolittle score per residue. Positive values are water-repelling.
Origin and history
Selank builds on tuftsin, a four-amino-acid immune peptide discovered in 1970 by Victor Najjar at Tufts University (it is named after Tufts).
Researchers at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow, working with the Zakusov Institute of Pharmacology, added Pro-Gly-Pro to tuftsin to make it last longer, creating selank. It was registered in Russia in the late 2000s as an anti-anxiety medicine. It is not approved in the U.S.
Key people
- Victor NajjarDiscovered tuftsin at Tufts University (1970)
Timeline
- 1970
Tuftsin discovered
- 1990s
Selank developed in Moscow
- Late 2000s
Registered in Russia for anxiety
See every peptide on one history timeline.
Human evidence
Human evidence is limited and geographically concentrated; robust large trials are lacking.
Study design, enrollment, endpoints, outcomes and limitations must be assessed individually; registration is not proof of efficacy.
Explore the literature for Selank and distinguish in-vitro, animal, and human findings.
Safety and regulatory status
See every compound on the regulatory tracker.
Not FDA-approved as a drug in the United States.
Long-term risks, formulation differences, and human safety evidence require careful review. Educational content only; not medical advice.
Sources
Hernandez Gener, E. (2026, November 7). Selank: molecular data, research history and evidence. VALREXA Biosciences. https://valrexa.com/peptides/selank.html
APA style · Last reviewed November 7, 2026 · Our editorial standardsLast reviewed November 7, 2026. Trial and regulatory status can change; confirm in the linked registries. This profile is educational and is not medical advice, a treatment recommendation, or dosing or sourcing guidance. Report an error · Corrections policy