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Semax

ACTH(4-10) analog
Cognitive · CAS 80714-61-0
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Category
Cognitive
Evidence grade
C
PubMed records
206
Female-tagged
33
Sex-analysis
2
CAS
80714-61-0
C
Evidence grade C, Early human data only (Phase 1 / small-n) across 206 indexed studies. How grades work →
Female evidence: None
Semax: of 206 PubMed records, 33 are tagged as including female subjects and 2 carry a sex-analysis tag.Counts reflect PubMed records as of 2026-07-17. “Female” uses the Female MeSH filter and “sex-analysis” the Sex Factors MeSH filter, automated proxies pending manual study-level review. Methodology →

Overview

Semax is a synthetic analogue of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) fragment 4-10, first developed in Russia in the 1980s for neurological and cognitive research. Its short, stabilized structure gives it a research-friendly profile, and the mechanisms it has been used to probe span several neurological pathways that remain active areas of laboratory work.

In preclinical models, Semax has been studied for its relationship to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, the pathway associated with neuronal growth, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity. Investigators working on neuroprotective mechanisms, cognitive-function models, and stress-response pathways have used it as a primary research material, and it has also appeared in work on cerebral blood flow and neuroinflammation, which places it across several research categories at once.

What makes Semax a useful entry for a cognitive and neurological catalog is the relative specificity of its studied mechanism. Rather than acting broadly across many receptor classes, it has been characterized against defined pathways, which makes it easier to study in isolation or inside a structured multi-material protocol. Whether any of this translates to female physiology is a separate, largely open question, and our evidence review tracks how many of the underlying studies actually included women.

Summary

Semax is an ACTH(4-10)-derived peptide studied in neuroscience research for effects on neurotrophic signaling. Most human research comes from a small number of studies that did not report outcomes by sex.

Evidence in women

Menstrual cycle
Unstudied
No menstrual cycle interaction data.
Pregnancy & lactation
Unstudied
No pregnancy or lactation safety data.
Hormonal interactions
Unstudied
No hormonal interaction data.
Perimenopause & menopause
Unstudied
No data in perimenopausal or menopausal populations.
Sex differences
Unstudied
In the indexed literature, many studies included female subjects and none reported sex-stratified outcomes.

Mechanism

Studied for influence on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve-growth-factor expression and dopaminergic/serotonergic signaling in preclinical and early clinical models.

Reported dosing & routes

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We don't give dosing or medical advice. The figures below describe what was used in published research, not a recommendation. Decide with your clinician.

Reported range (literature)Reported in early studies; no established therapeutic dose in most jurisdictions.
Routesintranasal
Female-specific dosingNot established

Contraindications: not established

Side effects

Reported in the research literature. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records.

limited human safety data

Semax reconstitution calculator

Enter this vial's amount, the bacteriostatic water you add, and a target amount to get the concentration and the U-100 syringe units to draw. Handling arithmetic for research use, not a dose recommendation.

Reconstitution

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Draw for Semax

5
units on a U-100 insulin syringe
020406080100
U-100 insulin syringe — 1 mL = 100 units
That's 0.05 mL drawn to the 5-unit mark.
Concentration5 mg/mL (5,000 mcg/mL)
Volume to draw0.05 mL
Doses per vial40

Reference chart at 5 mg/mL

Target amountVolume (mL)U-100 units
100 mcg0.02 mL2
250 mcg0.05 mL5
500 mcg0.1 mL10
750 mcg0.15 mL15
1000 mcg0.2 mL20

Research-use arithmetic only. This tool converts a vial amount, diluent volume, and a target amount into a concentration and syringe draw for laboratory handling. It is not dosing guidance, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy, and it does not account for overfill, dead space, or peptide purity. Nothing here is medical advice. “U-100” means 100 units = 1 mL; confirm your syringe graduation before measuring. See the reconstitution & storage handbook for handling detail.

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn only from Semax's research facts and, where reviewed, its sex-disaggregated evidence. Nothing here is medical advice, dosing, or a claim of safety or efficacy.

What is Semax?

Semax, also known as ACTH(4-10) analog, is a research compound in our cognitive category. Semax is an ACTH(4-10)-derived peptide studied in neuroscience research for effects on neurotrophic signaling.

Is Semax studied in women?

Semax: of 206 PubMed records, 33 are tagged as including female subjects and 2 carry a sex-analysis tag. We grade this none: no PubMed record for Semax is tagged as including female subjects, so its effects in women are effectively unstudied. That blank is the finding, not a safety signal, and we do not fill it with guesses.

Has Semax been studied during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Unstudied. No pregnancy or lactation safety data. This is not a safety clearance or a recommendation. Vera, our research chat, deliberately hard-stops on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and trying-to-conceive questions rather than answer them.

What evidence grade does Semax have, and why?

Semax carries evidence grade C. Early human data only (Phase 1 / small-n) across 206 indexed studies.. Grades are derived from the research record, never hand-assigned; see how grades work.

Is there a female-specific dose for Semax?

No. A female-specific dose for Semax is not established, and this site does not provide dosing or medical advice. Any figures we show describe what published research used, not a recommendation. Decide anything about use with a qualified clinician.

How is Semax administered in research?

In the published literature, Semax is administered via intranasal. Reported dose ranges on the Dosing tab describe what studies used for laboratory research, not a protocol for people. We don't provide dosing.

What side effects have been reported for Semax?

Effects reported in the research literature include limited human safety data. Sex-specific incidence has not been separately analysed in the available records, so these are not broken out for women.

What is the CAS number for Semax?

The CAS registry number for Semax is 80714-61-0. It is also referred to as ACTH(4-10) analog. Use it to confirm identity against a Certificate of Analysis.

How should Semax be stored and handled?

Semax sold for research is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. Lyophilized peptides are generally kept cold and dry, at roughly -20°C for longer-term storage and 2-8°C short-term, protected from light. Once reconstituted they are typically refrigerated and used within a short window, avoiding repeated freeze-thaw cycles. This is general laboratory handling for research use only, not a directive for human use. Always follow the handling and purity details on the product's Certificate of Analysis.

Where can I buy Semax for research?

For laboratory research use, Semax is available from our research-use partner, Aurevena Research. Applying code research15 takes 15% off. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.

Buy Semax at Aurevena Research
Research-use supplier: Semax is available from our research-use vendor for laboratory use. Code research15 for 15% off, applied automatically at checkout. We may earn a commission when you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. Products are for laboratory research use only.
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Educational information for laboratory and research use only. Not medical advice, a recommendation, or a claim of safety or efficacy; no personal dosing. “Unstudied” means no qualifying study was found, not that a compound is safe or unsafe.