TP-7 · Tuftsin Analogue · Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro
A synthetic heptapeptide derived from the endogenous immunomodulatory peptide tuftsin, developed at the Russian Institute of Molecular Genetics alongside Semax. Approved clinically in Russia for anxiety and asthenic conditions. Works through GABA-A modulation, BDNF upregulation and serotonin regulation — producing genuine anxiolytic effects without sedation, tolerance or dependence. The calm counterpart to Semax's stimulating focus.
Selank is a synthetic analogue of tuftsin — a naturally occurring tetrapeptide produced by the spleen that plays a role in immune regulation and neurological function. The addition of a Pro-Gly-Pro sequence to the tuftsin backbone significantly extends its half-life and enhances its CNS activity, creating a stable compound with a comprehensive neurological profile. Like its companion compound Semax, Selank was developed at the Russian Institute of Molecular Genetics and has been approved and used clinically in Russia for decades — providing a clinical track record unusual in the research peptide space.
Selank is registered in Russia under the brand name Selank and is prescribed for anxiety disorders, generalised anxiety, asthenic conditions and stress-related cognitive impairment. It is sometimes described as a peptide anxiolytic — achieving anxiety relief through a mechanism similar to benzodiazepines but without their sedation, cognitive impairment, tolerance development or dependence potential.
Selank's anxiolytic and cognitive effects arise from several complementary mechanisms:
The comparison to benzodiazepines is mechanistically appropriate but the clinical picture is fundamentally different. Benzodiazepines produce powerful anxiolysis but at significant cost — sedation, cognitive impairment, tolerance requiring dose escalation, physical dependence and severe withdrawal syndromes. These drawbacks make benzodiazepines unsuitable for anything beyond short-term acute use.
Selank achieves anxiety reduction through partial GABA-A modulation at a different receptor site — producing anxiolysis without sedation, without cognitive impairment (users report improved rather than impaired cognition), without tolerance development at standard doses and without physical dependence. Multiple Russian clinical trials confirmed the absence of dependence, withdrawal symptoms and tolerance in subjects using Selank for extended periods — a fundamental advantage over pharmacological anxiolytics.
Russian clinical trials have evaluated Selank in generalised anxiety disorder, mixed anxiety-depression, asthenic conditions (chronic mental and physical fatigue) and cognitive impairment. Consistent findings include significant anxiety reduction comparable to standard pharmacological treatment, improved cognitive performance particularly in attention and memory, and improved sleep quality — without the adverse effect profiles of conventional anxiolytics.
A notable finding across multiple trials was that Selank's cognitive-enhancing effects were most pronounced in subjects under stress — suggesting the compound's primary value may be in restoring normal cognitive function that anxiety and stress impair, rather than supraphysiological enhancement in already-optimal individuals.
Selank's GABA-A modulation and anxiety-reduction produce meaningful improvements in sleep quality without acting as a sedative. The mechanism is indirect — by reducing the ruminative, anxious mental activity that prevents sleep onset in high-functioning individuals, Selank creates the neurological conditions for natural sleep rather than forcing sedation. This makes it particularly relevant for individuals with delayed sleep phase or hyperactive baseline mental states where the inability to disengage mentally is the primary barrier to sleep.
Evening dosing specifically for sleep improvement is a well-documented use pattern. Unlike pharmaceutical sleep aids, Selank does not impair morning cognitive function or produce grogginess — users typically report waking feeling rested without hangover effect.
Selank and Semax are the classic Russian nootropic pair — developed at the same institution, sharing some mechanisms (BDNF, intranasal route) while being complementary in their primary effects. Semax provides stimulating cognitive enhancement — focus, drive, memory encoding. Selank provides the calm anxiolytic foundation — reduced mental noise, stress resilience, sleep quality. Together they create a balanced cognitive stack that most users report as superior to either compound alone.
The combination is particularly relevant for high-performance individuals who need both sharp focus and stress resilience — the cognitive intensity of Semax without the edge that some users experience at higher doses, balanced by Selank's calming properties. Semax in the morning, Selank in the evening is the standard protocol for the combination.
As a tuftsin analogue, Selank retains some of the immune-modulating properties of its parent peptide. Tuftsin is involved in macrophage and NK cell activation — Selank has shown immune modulation effects in research, though this is a secondary rather than primary application. The neuroinflammation reduction through IL-6 suppression is more directly relevant to its CNS effects.
Selank has an excellent safety profile established through decades of Russian clinical use. No dependence, tolerance or withdrawal effects have been documented. No significant adverse effects reported in clinical trials. No known interactions with common medications. As a GABA-A modulating compound it should theoretically be used with caution alongside other GABA-active substances (alcohol, benzodiazepines) though no dangerous interactions have been reported at standard doses.