Selank

Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, derived by extending the tuftsin sequence (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg) with a Pro-Gly-Pro tripeptide that confers proteolytic stability and enables intranasal CNS delivery.

The proposed mechanism is multimodal. The compound modulates GABAergic tone — most studied as anxiolytic activity without sedation, dependence, or muscle relaxation — and increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in hippocampal models. Additional documented activities include enkephalinase inhibition, contributing to elevated endogenous enkephalin tone.

Selank has been studied clinically in Russia for generalized anxiety disorder. The body of evidence is concentrated in Russian-language journals; English-language reviews are growing but limited.

Research Applications

• Anxiolytic pharmacology research without GABA-A receptor binding.
• BDNF and hippocampal neurotrophic signaling studies.
• Enkephalinase modulation and endogenous opioid tone research.
• Intranasal CNS delivery model research.