Selank
Selank was engineered as a more stable analog of tuftsin and studied primarily in Russia for generalized anxiety disorder and neurasthenia. Small Russian trials report anxiolytic effects broadly comparable to benzodiazepines such as medazepam with additional antiasthenic effects, but these studies are small and have not been independently replicated in large Western trials; it remains unapproved outside Russia/Ukraine.
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Mechanism
Selank is reported to modulate GABAergic and monoaminergic (serotonin/dopamine) neurotransmission, to rapidly elevate hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, to alter interleukin-6/T-helper cytokine balance, and to inhibit enzymatic degradation of enkephalins. These mechanisms are drawn largely from Russian preclinical and small clinical studies and are not independently confirmed in large Western trials.
Regulatory Status by Region
- United States (FDA)Not FDA-approved. Selank acetate was removed from the FDA 503A 'Category 2' bulk drug substances list on September 20, 2024 after the nomination was withdrawn; it is not part of the ongoing 2026 FDA compounding review.
- Australia (TGA)Not approved by the TGA and not on the ARTG; no registered therapeutic product.
- European Union (EMA)No EMA marketing authorisation; not an approved medicine in the EU.
- WADANot listed by name; because it lacks approval by major (stringent) regulatory authorities, it is generally treated as captured by the S0 'Non-Approved Substances' category, prohibited at all times. Athletes should treat it as prohibited.
Key Studies
- Efficacy and possible mechanisms of action of a new peptide anxiolytic selank in the therapy of generalized anxiety disorders and neurasthenia (comparative trial vs medazepam) (opens in a new tab) (Zozulia AA, Neznamov GG, et al. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2008;108(4):38-48 (Russian). PMID: 18454096.)
- GABA, Selank, and Olanzapine Affect the Expression of Genes Involved in GABAergic Neurotransmission (mechanistic study) (opens in a new tab) (PMC5328971.)
- Selank - overview and sequence (reference) (opens in a new tab) (Wikipedia summary of developer (Institute of Molecular Genetics, RAS), sequence and Russian availability.)
Related Clinical Trials
Common Questions
- What is Selank?
- Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide analog of the immunopeptide tuftsin (an IgG-derived fragment), developed by Russia's Institute of Molecular Genetics and studied as an anxiolytic. It is registered as a prescription medicine in Russia but is not approved by the FDA, EMA or TGA, and its clinical evidence is limited to small, mostly Russian-language trials.
- Is Selank approved for medical use?
- Selank is investigational: it is being studied in clinical research and is not an approved medicine. United States (FDA): Not FDA-approved. Selank acetate was removed from the FDA 503A 'Category 2' bulk drug substances list on September 20, 2024 after the nomination was withdrawn; it is not part of the ongoing 2026 FDA compounding review. European Union (EMA): No EMA marketing authorisation; not an approved medicine in the EU. Australia (TGA): Not approved by the TGA and not on the ARTG; no registered therapeutic product.
- How does Selank work?
- Selank is reported to modulate GABAergic and monoaminergic (serotonin/dopamine) neurotransmission, to rapidly elevate hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, to alter interleukin-6/T-helper cytokine balance, and to inhibit enzymatic degradation of enkephalins. These mechanisms are drawn largely from Russian preclinical and small clinical studies and are not independently confirmed in large Western trials.
- Is Selank legal in Australia?
- Selank in Australia (TGA): Not approved by the TGA and not on the ARTG; no registered therapeutic product.
- Is Selank banned in sport?
- Selank under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code: Not listed by name; because it lacks approval by major (stringent) regulatory authorities, it is generally treated as captured by the S0 'Non-Approved Substances' category, prohibited at all times. Athletes should treat it as prohibited.