Cognition-related peptides: a research reference
CognitivePepti summarises published preclinical studies and regulatory records on peptides studied in neuroscience laboratories, including Semax, Selank and DSIP.
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Cognition-related peptides in research: Semax, Selank and DSIP compared
A side-by-side research reference on Semax, Selank and DSIP: where they came from, their sequences, the studies on record, proposed mechanisms and FDA status.
Selank: the tuftsin analogue and its research record
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide built on the tuftsin sequence. This page summarises its origins, published preclinical work, regulatory record and remaining gaps.
DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide): fifty years of an unresolved peptide
DSIP was isolated from rabbit brain in 1977, yet its receptor and mechanism remain unresolved. A summary of the early studies, open questions and the 2026 FDA advisory agenda.
Prepared by: Research Desk. Sources are linked for verification.
What this site covers
CognitivePepti is a research reference on short peptides studied in neuroscience laboratories. The main compounds are Semax, Selank and delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP), along with related research peptides from the same literature.
Each page summarises what published studies and regulatory records report. Most of the evidence comes from rat, rabbit and cell experiments. These experiments do not show what a compound does in people.
Who it is for
The site is written for laboratory researchers and students who want a compact, sourced overview before reading the primary literature. It is not a guide to personal use.
How pages are sourced
- PubMed entries. Each study links to its PubMed record. One example is the 1977 characterisation of DSIP by Schoenenberger and colleagues. Findings are attributed to the authors and to the model they used.
- FDA records. Regulatory notes draw on FDA material on the 503A bulk drug substances framework, such as the 503A bulks list page. Nomination for that list, or inclusion on it, is not FDA approval of a drug.
- FDA's page on bulk drug substances that may present significant safety risks lists "Selank acetate (TP-7)". It cites a possible risk of immunogenicity from aggregation and peptide-related impurities, and notes that FDA lacks safety information. The same page also lists "Emideltide (DSIP)", and it lists "Semax (heptapeptide)" among nominations that were withdrawn.
- FDA's advisory committee calendar listed Emideltide (also referred to as DSIP) and Semax for discussion at the 24 July 2026 meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, as bulk drug substances being considered for inclusion on the 503A Bulks List. A listing for discussion does not indicate any outcome.
Where a status cannot be confirmed from a current FDA entry, the page says so rather than inferring it.
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- Cognition peptide research guide: covers the compounds, the main research groups and the limits of the evidence.
- Selank research overview: covers Selank's origins and sequence, with selected rodent and cell studies.
- DSIP research overview: covers the 1977 rabbit studies and open questions about the peptide's mechanism.
- About: explains what the site does and does not cover.
Compounds covered
- Semax: a synthetic heptapeptide, Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro, described as an ACTH(4-10) analogue (Eremin et al., 2005).
- Selank: a synthetic heptapeptide, Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro, developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics in Moscow as an analogue of tuftsin.
- DSIP: a nonapeptide, Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu, reported as isolated from rabbit brain in 1977.
A note on the evidence
Much of the Semax literature comes from a small number of Moscow institutes. Selank also originated in Moscow, at the Institute of Molecular Genetics. For DSIP, a specific receptor and a definitive molecular mechanism remain unresolved.
Each summary is a starting point. The cited primary records give the full methods and results.
Supplier
Purita is a store that sells peptides for laboratory research use only, and its product pages label items for research use only and not for human or animal administration.
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