FDA
No application listedNo application naming semax as an active ingredient is listed in Drugs@FDA. Checked 2026-10-05; the control lookup (semaglutide) returned 6 applications.
Drugs@FDA via openFDASemax: chemistry, literature and regulatory status
Research-use information. This page summarises published literature and regulator records. It is not guidance for use, not medical advice, and not a statement that any material is suitable for use in people or animals.
What is Semax?
Semax is the heptapeptide Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro, an analogue of the ACTH(4-10) fragment with a Pro-Gly-Pro extension. Published work includes copper-binding chemistry, brain-slice calcium measurements and rat gene-expression studies. It is supplied here as a research material for laboratory use only.
What are the chemical facts for Semax?
- Name
- Semax
- Also written
- ACTH (4-7)-Pro-Gly-Pro
- Sequence
- Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro
- Length
- 7 residues
- Molecular formula
C37H51N9O10S(matches the formula computed from the sequence)- Average molecular weight
- 813.9 g/mol
- CAS number
80714-61-0(confirmed in PubChem)- PubChem
- CID 9811102
Chemistry checked against PubChem on 2026-10-05. Where the formula can be computed from the listed sequence, it was, and the two routes agree.
How does the literature describe the mechanism of Semax?
- Semax was examined for copper(II) binding and for its effect on Cu(II)-catalysed reactive oxygen species production and amyloid-beta cytotoxicity.[3]
- Intracellular calcium dynamics were measured in rat hippocampal and cerebellar slices exposed to Semax.[1]
- Gene expression was analysed by RNA-Seq in rat brain regions after ACTH-like peptides including Semax.[2]
What has published research on Semax looked at?
3 studies are cited for Semax. Each is labelled by design below, and each entry says what the paper measured.
- 1 in vitro
- 1 animal study
- 1 chemistry and in vitro study
PubMed returns 155 records for the search terms published on the method page (9 of them with a review publication type, 4 with a clinical-trial publication type), checked 5 October 2026. ClinicalTrials.gov lists 0 registered studies whose intervention matches the name (0 interventional), checked 5 October 2026.
Studies are listed by what they measured. Papers whose titles state an amount or schedule, or describe a clinical outcome of an approved medicine, are not listed. This is a wording rule, not a quality filter; see the method page.
What is the regulatory status of Semax?
EMA
No centrally authorised medicine listedNo centrally authorised procedure in the EMA medicines database (checked 5 October 2026) names semax as an active substance. National authorisations are not in this dataset.
EMA medicines dataMHRA
No product document foundNo SmPC, PIL or PAR document in MHRA Products matches the exact name "semax". Checked 2026-10-05; the control lookup (semaglutide) returned 271 documents.
MHRA ProductsWADA
Not namedThe WADA 2026 Prohibited List, in force 1 January 2026 does not name this substance. The list names substances by example, so this is not a statement that it is permitted in sport.
WADA Prohibited List 2026A regulator record is information about a database entry. It is not advice and not a statement that any use is lawful or unlawful in any country. How regulators approach research peptides.
Data dates: regulatory records 2026-10-05; WADA list 2026-10-05.
Which studies are cited for Semax?
[1] Kolbaev SN, Sharonova IN, Skrebitsky VG. The Effect of Peptide Semax, an ACTH(4-10) Analogue, on Intracellular Calcium Dynamics in Rat Brain Neurons. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2025;179:416-420.
Measured intracellular calcium dynamics in rat hippocampal and cerebellar slices exposed to Semax.
[2] Filippenkov IB, Shpetko YY, Ales DA, Stavchansky VV, Denisova AE, Yuzhakov VV, et al.. Genes That Associated with Action of ACTH-like Peptides with Neuroprotective Potential in Rat Brain Regions with Different Degrees of Ischemic Damage. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26.
Analysed gene expression (RNA-Seq) in rat brain regions after ACTH-like peptides including Semax.
[3] Tomasello MF, Di Rosa MC, Naletova I, Sciacca MFM, Giuffrida A, Maccarrone G, et al.. Semax, a Copper Chelator Peptide, Decreases the Cu(II)-Catalyzed ROS Production and Cytotoxicity of aβ by Metal Ion Stripping and Redox Silencing. Bioinorg Chem Appl. 2025;2025:4226220.
Examined copper(II) binding by Semax and its effect on Cu(II)-catalysed reactive oxygen species production and amyloid-beta cytotoxicity.
Data dates: citations read from PubMed 2026-10-05.
Where else in the research library is Semax covered?
Who wrote this page and how is it checked?
Peptency editorial team, last reviewed 5 October 2026. Citations are read back from PubMed, chemistry is checked against PubChem, and regulator records are read from each regulator's own database on the dates shown. The method page lists every source, search term and rule. Corrections are welcome through the contact details on the About page.