Selank

Selank (sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) is a synthetic heptapeptide that originates from the naturally occurring immunomodulatory peptide tuftsin, enhanced with a Pro-Gly-Pro stabilizing sequence to significantly prolong the molecule’s plasma half-life. It was developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences and has been approved in Russia since 2009. Selank is recognized as one of the most thoroughly documented anxiolytic peptides outside the benzodiazepine class and serves as a key reference compound in short-peptide CNS research.

Researchers are exploring Selank to examine its unique anxiolytic profile: it influences GABA-A receptor function similarly to benzodiazepines, yet preclinical studies consistently indicate no sedation, no development of tolerance, no cognitive impairment, and no physical dependence following chronic administration.