Semax is a synthetic analogue of the natural neuropeptide ACTH(4-10), originally developed in Russia in the 1980s and used clinically there for decades. It functions primarily by dramatically upregulating BDNF — brain-derived neurotrophic factor — which is the brain's primary growth and maintenance molecule.
BDNF supports neuronal survival, promotes synaptogenesis (formation of new connections), and is critically involved in the dopamine pathways that govern attention and motivation. Low BDNF is implicated in ADHD, depression, and cognitive decline — Semax's primary mechanism directly addresses this.
Semax increases BDNF levels in the brain by up to 800% in animal models and produces measurable improvements in human cognitive performance in clinical studies — including attention, memory consolidation, and stress resilience.
Semax is typically administered as a nasal spray (intranasal delivery bypasses the blood-brain barrier via the olfactory pathway) or via subcutaneous injection. The nasal route is particularly convenient and effective for its neurological applications.