Semax and Selank: pharmacy drops vs a research vial
In short: in Russian pharmacies, Semax and Selank are sold as medicines: a ready-made solution in drop form, with a patient leaflet. We supply something else: the dry peptide (lyophilised powder) in a 10 mg vial for in-vitro laboratory research. The peptide molecule is the same, but these are different products with a different purpose, content and status. Our vial is not a medicine and not a substitute for pharmacy drops.
These are the questions asked most often: "Is this the same as the drops in the pharmacy?", "Why a powder and not a spray?", "Where can I buy Semax in a pharmacy in Moldova?". Here are the answers, one at a time.
What pharmacies sell
Semax and Selank were created at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In Russia both are registered as medicines. In a pharmacy they come as a finished pharmaceutical form: a solution of the peptide in a small dropper bottle. Besides the peptide, the solution contains the excipients a finished medicine needs. The pack carries a patient leaflet, and the indications and rules of use are set by the registration.
Whether these drops are registered in Moldova and sold in local pharmacies can be checked in the State Register of Medicines kept by the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (AMDM). We do not sell pharmacy medicines and do not advise on them.
What we sell
We supply a research reagent: the peptide itself, with nothing added, freeze-dried into a lyophilised powder. At the bottom of the vial there is a white "cake" or a loose powder. A peptide like this is not ready to use as it is: in the laboratory it is first dissolved to give a solution of the concentration the in-vitro experiment needs, meaning work "in glass", on cells and tissue.
| Parameter | Semax | Selank |
|---|---|---|
| Sequence | Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro | Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro |
| CAS | 80714-61-0 | 129954-34-3 |
| Molecular weight | 813.9 Da | 751.9 Da |
| Our vial | 10 mg, lyophilised | 10 mg, lyophilised |
| Purity | ≥99% by HPLC-MS | ≥99% by HPLC-MS |
CAS is the substance's number in the international chemical registry. HPLC-MS is the laboratory analysis that shows what share of the sample is the intended peptide and confirms the mass of its molecule.
The main differences in one table
| What we compare | Pharmacy drops | Our vial |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A medicine | A reagent for laboratory research |
| Form | Ready-made solution, dropper bottle | Dry powder (lyophilised) in a vial |
| Content | Peptide plus excipients | Peptide only |
| Amount of peptide | Stated in the product leaflet | 10 mg per vial |
| Paperwork | Marketing authorisation, patient leaflet | Purity specification ≥99% by HPLC-MS |
| Meant for | Patients, under the registration rules | Laboratories, in-vitro experiments |
| Storage | As the leaflet says | Dry vial: 2–8 °C in the dark; −20 °C long term |
Is it the same molecule?
Yes, the peptide is the same: the sequence of Semax or Selank does not depend on the form it is sold in. But the same molecule does not make the products the same. A medicine has a registration, a finished form, excipients, a leaflet and the controls that medicines law requires. A research vial has none of that: it is raw material for a laboratory experiment. That is why our vial is not an equivalent of pharmacy drops and does not replace them.
Why a powder and not a solution
A peptide is far more stable dry than in solution. In solution the molecules slowly break down: they oxidise, fall apart, and contamination can get in. Semax has a weak spot of its own: the amino acid methionine in its chain oxidises easily. A dry lyophilised powder travels safely at ordinary temperature and, stored correctly, keeps for a long time: at −20 °C for at least 24 months.
For a laboratory it is more convenient to receive the dry peptide and make up a solution at whatever concentration the experiment needs. Bacteriostatic or sterile water is used for that; see "Bacteriostatic water: what it is".
Semax or Selank: how the peptides themselves differ
They are two different peptides. Selank is built on tuftsin, a peptide linked to the immune system. Semax is built on a fragment of the hormone ACTH. They are studied in different models. The whole story is in "Selank vs Semax: the difference in plain English".
Frequently asked questions
Do you have Semax or Selank as drops or a spray?
No. We supply only the dry peptide in 10 mg vials. We have no ready-made solutions, drops or sprays.
Can your vial be made into drops?
Our vial is a reagent for in-vitro laboratory research. Nothing is to be prepared from it for use in people, and we do not advise on use.
Where can I buy Semax in a pharmacy in Moldova?
We do not sell pharmacy medicines. Whether a medicine is registered in Moldova is shown in the State Register of Medicines kept by AMDM.
Is a research peptide better than the pharmacy one?
No, they are simply different products. A medicine is meant for treatment under its registration. A research peptide is meant for laboratory experiments that need a known mass of pure substance with nothing added.
How should your vial be stored?
Keep the dry vial at 2–8 °C in the dark, and at −20 °C for long-term storage. The details are in the peptide storage guide.
How to order
Prices and availability are on the Semax and Selank pages and in the block below this article. You can order on the site or through the Telegram bot. We deliver within Moldova in 1 business day and you pay the courier on delivery. Before delivery we call you to confirm the order. Bacteriostatic water comes free with peptides: one bottle per 1–3 vials.
Sources
- Functional Connectomic Approach to Studying Selank and Semax Effects. Dokl Biol Sci, 2020. PMID 32342318
- Semax, synthetic ACTH(4-10) analogue, attenuates behavioural and neurochemical alterations following early-life fluvoxamine exposure in white rats. Neuropeptides, 2021. PMID 33418449
For in-vitro research and laboratory use only. Not for human or animal consumption.
