Semax
Focus and memory peptide
Also known as Semax, the focus peptide
- Evidence grade
- CSmall or early human studies onlyScale
- Half-life
- Minutes, cleared rapidly
- Schedule
- Once or twice daily, subcutaneous
- Maintenance amount
- 400 mcg
- Vial sizes sold
- 10 mg, 30 mg
- Cost per dose
- $2.16
Where a value is not established in people, this table says so rather than filling the box.
A focus and memory peptide studied for attention and recovery, with limited large-scale trial data so far.
Semax is a short peptide based on a fragment of ACTH. It is thought to raise brain derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF and to influence dopamine and other neurotransmitters, which is the basis for its study as a nootropic and neuroprotective agent. It is used clinically as a nasal spray, with limited trial data so far.
Human evidence comes mainly from small clinical studies, and there are no large international trials.
- Studied in clinical trials for recovery after ischemic stroke.
- May raise BDNF and support neuroplasticity.
- Studied for effects on attention, memory and cognitive performance.
- Explored for brain protection during reduced blood flow.
- Reported side effects are few, though rigorous long-term safety data are limited.
- Most evidence comes from small studies outside Western regulatory review.
- Intranasal irritation is possible with the nasal formulation.
- Product quality varies since it is unapproved in the US and EU.
A summary of the research, not medical advice. Individual benefits and risks vary, and for some of these compounds the human evidence is still early.
Semax is generally reported to work faster than most peptides on this site, with cognitive effects commonly described within the same day of a dose, and cumulative mood or focus changes reported over one to a few weeks of regular use.
Read the full timeline →Drawn from published trial data and how the research community commonly describes this stretch. Not a fixed schedule and not medical advice.
Goal of the protocol. Investigated for sharper focus, memory and neuroprotection linked to higher BDNF.
Once or twice daily, subcutaneous. For research reference only, not medical advice.
| Phase | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ongoing | 200–600 mcg daily |
Most clinical use is intranasal; injectable amounts reflect reference practice only.
A rough shopping estimate at the maintenance amount. Your real needs shift with your dose and titration.
| Item | 8-week plan | 12-week plan | 16-week plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peptide vials (30 mg) | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Insulin syringes (U-100) | 56 | 84 | 112 |
| Bacteriostatic water (10 mL) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Alcohol swabs (100-count box) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
What a course of Semax actually costs, worked from list price and the amount in the schedule above, plus the whole vials a 12-week run would take.
| Supplier | Vial | Price | Per mg | Per dose | 12 weeks | Independent test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BioEdge Research Labs | 10 mg | $69 | $6.90 | $2.76 | $276 (4 vials) | None on file |
| Quartz Peptides | 10 mg | $54 | $5.40 | $2.16 | $216 (4 vials) | None on file |
List prices, checked September 4, 2026. Sale pricing is ignored on purpose so the table does not swing week to week. Verify before ordering.
Suppliers are listed alphabetically. We do not rank them by price, because the cheapest vial and the one worth buying are rarely the same thing. The column that matters is the last one, and today most of it reads "none on file", including for Quartz Peptides, which is owned by this site’s editor. See the disclosure and the COA guide.
Lyophilized: Keep the sealed powder cool and dark, near -20 °C where possible, dry and out of light.
Reconstituted: Refrigerate the mixed vial at 2 to 8 °C, use within a few weeks and avoid freeze and thaw.
Let a cold vial reach room temperature before you open it, so it takes on less condensation.
How strong is the evidence for Semax?
We grade it C on a four-point scale. Small clinical studies only. No large international trials.
What is the half-life of Semax?
Minutes, cleared rapidly. That is the figure the reported dosing frequency follows from.
What amount of Semax is used in the research?
Ongoing: 200–600 mcg daily. Most clinical use is intranasal; injectable amounts reflect reference practice only.
How much does Semax cost?
A 10 mg vial lists at $54 from Quartz Peptides, which works out to $5.40 per mg and about $2.16 per dose at the amount used in research. Prices checked September 4, 2026. Price is not a quality signal, so check the certificate of analysis before ordering from anyone.
How is Semax stored once reconstituted?
Refrigerate the mixed vial at 2 to 8 °C, use within a few weeks and avoid freeze and thaw.
- Gusev EI, et al. The efficacy of semax in the treatment of patients at different stages of ischemic stroke. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2018;118(3 Pt 2):61-68.
- Medvedeva EV, et al. Protective Properties of ACTH(4-7)PGP (Semax) at the Transcriptome Level Following Cerebral Ischaemia-Reperfusion in Rats. Genes (Basel). 2020;11:681.
