Selank: research, legal status and who sells it

What it is

Selank is a synthetic peptide analogue of tuftsin [9]. It was submitted to FDA for compounding as selank acetate, also called TP-7 [2].

Research status

The clinical evidence comes from small Russian studies published in Russian. One compared selank with the benzodiazepine medazepam in 62 patients with generalized anxiety disorder or neurasthenia and reported similar anxiety-reducing effects [10]. That study also reported anti-fatigue and stimulant-like effects [10]. Another compared it with phenazepam in 60 patients with anxiety disorders and reported that the anti-anxiety effect lasted for a week after treatment ended [11]. Neither was a large, placebo-controlled international trial. A 2001 study proposed that selank may work by inhibiting enzymes that break down enkephalins, the body’s natural opioid peptides [12], and a 2016 rat study looked at its effects on brain genes involved in GABA signaling [13]. Other rat research includes a 2022 study of morphine withdrawal [9]. FDA says it lacks important information on any safety issues raised by selank given to humans [2].

Regulatory status

Selank is not FDA-approved [1]. Its nomination for pharmacy compounding was withdrawn after FDA flagged potential immunogenicity and impurity risks [2]. No selank medicine is authorized in the UK, the EU or Canada [3][4][5][6]. Selank is not named in Australia’s Poisons Standard [7] or on WADA’s 2026 Prohibited List [8].

Quality and testing considerations

FDA notes potential aggregation and peptide-related impurities in compounded selank [2]. A certificate of analysis should state the exact form tested and confirm identity by mass spectrometry.

Where it’s sold

Selank is sold online by research-chemical vendors; the tables below track listings.