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Atlas Research Compounds

Neuropeptides

Semax

A synthetic heptapeptide derived from an ACTH fragment.

Evidence
Early clinical
Literature
Mechanistic and limited clinical literature
Family
ACTH-fragment-derived neuropeptide

Overview

Semax is studied as a neuroactive peptide in experimental and limited clinical literature. Mechanistic work spans neurotrophic signaling, gene expression, and stress-response pathways, but the evidence base is heterogeneous and geographically concentrated.

Evidence maturity

Evidence score2/5

Early human evidence

The score summarizes evidence maturity, not safety, effectiveness, or suitability for any use.

Mechanism summary

Investigated across neurotrophic, transcriptional, and stress-response signaling; no single mechanism explains the full literature.

Research category
Cognitive Function
Editorial status
Published

Evidence synthesis

Structured evidence summary

Human studies
2
Animal studies
7
In vitro records
1
Review records
5
Abstract extracted
5
Metadata verified
10

Evidence strength

Limited translational

Confidence

Low confidence

Major findings

  • The verified set includes human-indexed records, animal ischemia and injury models, gene-expression publications, and neurotrophin-related mechanistic records.
  • Atlas treats the human records as the highest-priority extraction targets and keeps animal and molecular records in separate evidence lanes.

Major limitations

  • Most Phase 3 Semax additions remain metadata verified, so endpoints and effect sizes are not promoted into findings.
  • Safety synthesis remains review-required because the current extracted set is not a comprehensive human safety review.

Counts are generated from verified PubMed records. Findings above are evidence-map observations, not clinical recommendations or inferred study outcomes. See the scoring methodology.

Scoring methodology

Evidence strength, quality, and confidence

Evidence strength

Compound-level strength is based on the verified study mix: human records, animal records, review or synthesis records, and extraction depth. It describes evidence maturity only.

Study quality

Study-level quality is not assessed for metadata-only records. Abstract-extracted records are rated from study design and extraction depth, not from unreviewed full-text claims.

Confidence

Confidence is capped when records remain metadata verified. Atlas does not raise confidence by counting citations without extracting endpoints, comparators, duration, and limitations.

Workflow states are `METADATA_VERIFIED`, `ABSTRACT_EXTRACTED`, `FULLTEXT_REVIEWED`, and `EDITORIAL_APPROVED`. Because full-text review is not available in this phase, no study is promoted to full-text or editorial-approved status.

Research timeline

Evidence stages describe maturity, not a chronological promise of development.

  1. Identity and target

    Documented

    The compound identity or proposed target is described in research literature.

  2. Preclinical research

    Documented

    Laboratory or animal research forms part of the evidence base.

  3. Human research

    Emerging

    Some human research exists, but scope or maturity remains limited.

  4. Independent synthesis

    Limited

    Independent replication and synthesis remain important evidence gaps.

Open research questions

  1. 01Which findings replicate across independent research groups?
  2. 02How do route and formulation affect observed outcomes?
  3. 03Which molecular targets are direct rather than downstream?

Literature starting points

These links support further review; inclusion is not an endorsement of every indexed conclusion.

  1. 01

    Semax literature index

    PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine · Database

    Open source
  2. 02

    Atlas internal research database

    Internal Research Database · 2026 · Database

    Open source

Phase 2 study database

15 verified publications

Search all studies →
2025Semax peptide targets the μ opioid receptor gene Oprm1 to promote deubiquitination and functional recovery after spinal cord injury in female mice.Grade C2025Semax, a Copper Chelator Peptide, Decreases the Cu(II)-Catalyzed ROS Production and Cytotoxicity of aβ by Metal Ion Stripping and Redox Silencing.Grade D2022Semax, a Synthetic Regulatory Peptide, Affects Copper-Induced Abeta Aggregation and Amyloid Formation in Artificial Membrane ModelsGrade D2021Brain Protein Expression Profile Confirms the Protective Effect of the ACTH(4-7)PGP Peptide (Semax) in a Rat Model of Cerebral Ischemia-ReperfusionGrade C2021Semax, synthetic ACTH(4-10) analogue, attenuates behavioural and neurochemical alterations following early-life fluvoxamine exposure in white rats.Grade C

Deep research cluster

Explore Semax by evidence question

MechanismMechanistic pathways reported in verified publications, separated from clinical inference.Human studiesVerified human publications, study designs, findings, and explicit limitations.Animal studiesPreclinical animal models and the boundaries on translating their results.Safety evidenceWhat the verified publication set can and cannot establish about safety.Research historyA publication timeline built only from verified study records.ComparisonsContextual links to related compounds and existing structured comparisons.

Related comparisons

Semax vs. SelankSemax vs. NoopeptSelank vs. SemaxPinealon vs. SemaxSemax vs. PinealonSemax vs. CortagenSemax vs. DSIPCortagen vs. SemaxDSIP vs. Semax

Continue the research map

Related content

CompoundSelankCompoundNoopeptCompoundPinealonVerified studySemax peptide targets the μ opioid receptor gene Oprm1 to promote deubiquitination and functional recovery after spinal cord injury in female mice.Verified studySemax, a Copper Chelator Peptide, Decreases the Cu(II)-Catalyzed ROS Production and Cytotoxicity of aβ by Metal Ion Stripping and Redox Silencing.Verified studySemax, a Synthetic Regulatory Peptide, Affects Copper-Induced Abeta Aggregation and Amyloid Formation in Artificial Membrane ModelsComparisonSemax vs. SelankComparisonSemax vs. NoopeptComparisonSelank vs. SemaxComparisonPinealon vs. SemaxComparisonSemax vs. PinealonComparisonSemax vs. CortagenComparisonSemax vs. DSIPComparisonCortagen vs. SemaxComparisonDSIP vs. SemaxTopic hubCognitionTopic hubNeuroprotectionTopic hubPeptide Research