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Research

Selank and Semax are two synthetic neuropeptides developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Both are given intranasally, both are approved prescription drugs in Russia, and both have been used for decades to treat brain recovery and anxiety in Russia.  ​

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Across the published trials, both peptides are generally described as well tolerated over the short treatment courses studied. Reported observations include:

  • Semax:  Stroke trials such as Gusev and colleagues' work in the 1990s reported good tolerability with no significant adverse effects beyond local nasal irritation.

  • Selank: head-to-head trials against benzodiazepines (for example Zozulya and colleagues, ~62 patients, versus medazepam; and a phenazepam comparison of ~60 patients) reported anxiolytic effects comparable to those drugs but without sedation or dependence. Across the Russian trials, roughly 190 patients have been studied with very few adverse effects reported.​​​​

  • ​ Semax has been approved outside of the US since the 1990s and Selank since 2009, both as prescription medicines.

  • Decades of human trials exist​​

  • Bonafede R, Mariotti R. Extracellular vesicles in neurodegenerative diseases: current evidence and future perspectives. Front Neurosci. 2017.

  • Kalluri R, LeBleu VS. The biology, function, and biomedical applications of exosomes. Science. 2020.

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Important Patient and Consumer Information About Regenerative Medicine Therapies.

  • Gusev EI, et al. Clinical studies of Semax in neurological disorders.

  • Ashmarin IP, et al. Clinical studies of Selank in anxiety and cognitive disorders.

Selank in Anxiety:

  • In trials selank's anti-anxiety effect was described as comparable to benzodiazepines such as medazepam and phenazepam, but reportedly without the sedation, cognitive impairment, or dependence associated with that drug class.​

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Semax in Alzheimers:

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Semax in Neurodegenerative Disorders:

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Semax in Stroke and Spinal Cord Injury: 

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Selank in Anxiety:​​​

 

 

​Retatrutide in Weight Loss: 

  • Retatrutide's evidence base is unusually strong for a compound discussed in peptide circles, because it is being developed through full pharmaceutical trials rather than gray-market use. In 2026 it cleared multiple large Phase 3 studies.​​

  • TRIUMPH-1 (obesity)

  • ~2,500 adults with obesity or overweight plus a weight-related condition

  • At the 12 mg dose, average weight loss of about 28.3% (≈70 lbs) over 80 weeks; roughly 45% of participants lost ≥30% of body weight. A 4 mg dose gave about 19.0% over 80 weeks.​

  • TRIUMPH-1 extension

  • Participants with baseline BMI ≥35

  • Continued weight loss to an average of about 30.3% (≈85 lbs) at 104 weeks, with no clear plateau.​

  • TRANSCEND-T2D-1 (type 2 diabetes)

  • Adults with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled by diet and exercise

  • Met primary and key secondary endpoints; A1C reductions up to about 2.0%, plus significant weight loss versus placebo.

  • For context, roughly 28–30% average weight loss approaches the range historically associated with bariatric surgery, and is higher than the figures reported for current single- and dual-agonist drugs. These are company-reported topline results from well-designed trials — a far stronger basis than the anecdotal or small-study evidence behind many research peptides.​

  • How does it compare to other GLPs in it's class?​

  • Semaglutide (Wegovy) GLP-1

  • ~15% reported weight loss in clinical trials​

  • Tirzepatide (Zepbound) GLP-1 + GIP

  • ~20–22% reported weight loss in clinical trials​

  • Retatrutide GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon

  • Investigational — not approved

  • ~28–30% reported weight loss in ongoing clinical trials

  • The pattern across the class is that adding receptor targets has tended to increase average weight loss. Retatrutide's numbers are the highest reported so far.

It is worth being clear about the state of the evidence: most of what is known about these peptides comes from laboratory 

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GLOW Peptide Stack Results

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The timeline below reflects patterns people describe, not guaranteed outcomes. Reported effects develop gradually because the underlying processes — gene expression, collagen turnover, tissue remodeling — unfold over weeks.

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What people commonly describe

Week 1

Little visible change; some report subtle shifts in sleep or recovery. Early dramatic effects often reflect expectation.

Weeks 2–3

First tangible changes for some — skin feeling softer or more hydrated; reduced soreness in those using it for recovery.

Weeks 4–6

More noticeable skin and recovery changes reported by responders.

Weeks 7–12

Reported peak effects for those who continue; results vary considerably between individuals.

 

Factors that influence individual response include age, baseline skin or tissue condition, consistency of use, and lifestyle factors such as sleep, nutrition, sun exposure, and smoking.

Reported side effects are usually described as mild and temporary, but the absence of large safety studies means the full risk picture is not known.

  • Injection-site reactions: redness, itching, or mild swelling are the most commonly reported complaints.

  • Fatigue or headache: some users report tiredness or mild headache, particularly early on.

  • Nausea or flushing: less commonly reported; flushing is sometimes attributed to the copper in GHK-Cu.​​

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Where can I find more info?

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