Semax

Semax
	N06BX
Legal status
Legal status	US: Not FDA approved; unscheduled;
Identifiers
	IUPAC name (2S)-1-[2-{[(2S)-1-[(2S)-2-{[2-{[(2S)-2-{[(2S)-2-amino-4-methylsulfanylbutanoyl]amino}-4-carboxybutanoyl]amino}-3-(1H-imidazol-5-yl)propanoyl]amino}-3-phenylpropanoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl]amino}acetyl]pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid;
JSmol)	Interactive image;
	SMILES O=C(N[C@@H](CCC(O)=O)C(N[C@@H](CC1=CNC=N1)C(N[C@@H](CC2=CC=CC=C2)C(N3[C@@H](CCC3)C(NCC(N4[C@@H](CCC4)C(O)=O)=O)=O)=O)=O)=O)[C@H](CCSC)N;
	InChI InChI=1S/C37H51N9O10S/c1-57-16-13-24(38)32(50)42-25(11-12-31(48)49)33(51)43-26(18-23-19-39-21-41-23)34(52)44-27(17-22-7-3-2-4-8-22)36(54)46-15-5-9-28(46)35(53)40-20-30(47)45-14-6-10-29(45)37(55)56/h2-4,7-8,19,21,24-29H,5-6,9-18,20,38H2,1H3,(H,39,41)(H,40,53)(H,42,50)(H,43,51)(H,44,52)(H,48,49)(H,55,56)/t24-,25-,26?,27-,28-,29-/m0/s1; Key:AFEHBIGDWIGTEH-CXFOGXNKSA-N;

Semax is a drug which is used mostly in

neuroprotective

, and neurorestorative properties. Semax has not been evaluated, approved for use, or marketed in most other countries. It is prescribed in eastern Europe and Russia for brain trauma.

Etymology

Semax is composed of seven amino acid residues: Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro (MEHFPGP), which is reflected in the name - from an abbreviation of "Seven amino acids"- in Russian: СЕМь АминоКиСлот - СЕМАКС.

Marketing

Marketing Development and production: PEPTOGEN (Russian Federation) Joint-Stock Company «Innovative Research-and-Production Center «Peptogen» (JSC «Peptogen»), Russian Federation was founded in 2005 with the participation of the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Medical uses

Semax has undergone extensive study in Russia and is on the Russian List of Vital & Essential Drugs approved by the Russian Federation government on December 7, 2011.

optic nerve disease, and to boost the immune system.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

In animals, Semax rapidly elevates the levels and

TrkB in the hippocampus,^[6] and rapidly activates serotonergic and dopaminergic brain systems.^[7]^[8] Accordingly, it has been found to produce antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects,^[9]^[10] attenuate the behavioral effects of exposure to chronic stress,^[9]^[10] and potentiate the locomotor activity produced by D-amphetamine.^[8]^[11] As such, it has been suggested that Semax may be effective in the treatment of depression.^[12]

Though the exact

endogenous regulatory peptides (IC₅₀ = 10 μM), though the clinical significance of this property is uncertain.^[14]

Pharmacokinetics

As a peptide, Semax has poor

parenterally as a nasal spray

or subcutaneous injection.

Human trials

In a 2018 study involving 24 healthy participants, Semax was shown to increase fMRI default mode network activity relative to placebo.^[15]

In an earlier 1996 study, 250-1000 ug/kg of Semax improved attention and short term memory in 11 healthy subjects performing 8 hour work shifts, though the effects were most pronounced when subjects were fatigued (after the shift was over) and the effects lasted going into the next day.^[16] In a follow-up memory test administered the morning after Semax administration, the treatment group made more correct responses (71%) than the control group (41%).^[16]

A study involving 110 patients recovering from ischemic stroke reported increases in BDNF (correlated with early rehabilitation) in patients administered Semax.^[17]

As of November 2023, there are no published human trials involving Semax outside of Russia and Post-Soviet states.^[18]

Chemistry

Semax is a

amino acid sequence

: Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro (MEHFPGP in single-letter form).

References

^ "ПЕРЕЧЕНЬ. жизненно необходимых и важнейших лекарственных препаратов на 2012 год. (Vital and Essential Drugs List, 2012) - Russian Federation". World Health Organization. 2012. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015.
^ "Semax". Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences.
PMID 11569188
.

S2CID 23447014
.

^ Korneev EA, Kazakova TB (1999). "Current approaches to the analysis of the effects of stress on metabolic processes in cells of the nervous and immune systems". Med. Immunology. 1 (1–2): 17–22.

S2CID 27592503
.

S2CID 12955434
.

^
S2CID 38202287
.

^
PMID 17850024
.

^
S2CID 9699654
.

S2CID 1419653
.

PMID 18204410
.

^
PMID 22293371
.

S2CID 26029820
.

S2CID 254292493
.

^
doi:10.1002/(SICI)1520-6769(199609)19:2<115::AID-NRC171>3.0.CO;2-B
.

PMID 29798983
.

^ "Semax - Search Results - PubMed". PubMed. Retrieved 2023-11-12.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Semax&oldid=1198219432"

[1] "ПЕРЕЧЕНЬ. жизненно необходимых и важнейших лекарственных препаратов на 2012 год. (Vital and Essential Drugs List, 2012) - Russian Federation". World Health Organization. 2012. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015.

[old-2] "Semax". Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences.

[3] PMID 11569188
.

[4] S2CID 23447014
.

[5] Korneev EA, Kazakova TB (1999). "Current approaches to the analysis of the effects of stress on metabolic processes in cells of the nervous and immune systems". Med. Immunology. 1 (1–2): 17–22.

[pmid16996037-6] S2CID 27592503
.

[pmid15088389-7] S2CID 12955434
.

[pmid16362768-8] 
S2CID 38202287
.

[pmid17850024-9] 
PMID 17850024
.

[pmid24385169-10] 
S2CID 9699654
.

[pmid22803132-11] S2CID 1419653
.

[pmid18204410-12] PMID 18204410
.

[pmid22293371-13] 
PMID 22293371
.

[pmid11443939-14] S2CID 26029820
.

[Lebedeva_2018-15] S2CID 254292493
.

[Kaplan_1996-16] 
doi:10.1002/(SICI)1520-6769(199609)19:2<115::AID-NRC171>3.0.CO;2-B
.

[17] PMID 29798983
.

[18] "Semax - Search Results - PubMed". PubMed. Retrieved 2023-11-12.

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]