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Cognitive & Mood
Russian-developed nootropic peptide, approved there for stroke recovery.
Cognitive & Mood
A three-amino-acid Khavinson 'bioregulator' aimed at the brain.
Semax is not FDA-approved and rated 3/5 for evidence; Pinealon is not FDA-approved and rated 2/5. Semax has more human evidence behind it. Pinealon is banned in sport by WADA; Semax is not. Both are used for cognitive & mood goals.
| Compare | Semax Russian-developed nootropic peptide, approved there for stroke recovery. | Pinealon A three-amino-acid Khavinson 'bioregulator' aimed at the brain. |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Cognitive & Mood | Cognitive & Mood |
| Evidence | 3/5Clinical use in Russia with small trials; little Western randomized data. | 2/5Cell and animal studies from the developing group; one small uncontrolled human cohort. No placebo-controlled trials. |
| FDA status | Not FDA-approved | Not FDA-approved |
| WADA (sport) | Not on the Prohibited List | Banned |
| Also known as | ACTH(4-7)-PGP | EDR, Glu-Asp-Arg |
| How it works | Increases BDNF and NGF expression, modulates dopamine and serotonin signaling, and shows neuroprotective effects in ischemia models. | Proposed to enter cells and interact with DNA to influence gene activity, and to reduce oxidative stress in neurons. These ideas come mainly from the developers' lab and are not independently confirmed. |
| Half-life | Short (minutes); effects last hours | Not well characterized; likely short |
| Commonly reported doses |
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| Route | Intranasal or subcutaneous | Subcutaneous |
| Good once mixed | ~21 days in the fridge | ~30 days in the fridge |
| Top side effects |
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| Lowest research-listing price per mg | $1.80 (10 mg vial, 40% off) | $3.00 (10 mg vial, 40% off) |
| Latest lab purity | 99.93% (lot SMX0002) | 99.90% (lot PIN0002) |
Want a third? Add another peptide. Doses are commonly reported ranges, not recommendations.
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Semax is not FDA-approved and rated 3/5 for evidence; Pinealon is not FDA-approved and rated 2/5. Semax has more human evidence behind it. Pinealon is banned in sport by WADA; Semax is not. Both are used for cognitive & mood goals.
Semax: Not FDA-approved. Pinealon: Not FDA-approved. Regulations change, so confirm with the FDA.
Semax is rated 3 out of 5: Clinical use in Russia with small trials; little Western randomized data. Pinealon is rated 2 out of 5: Cell and animal studies from the developing group; one small uncontrolled human cohort. No placebo-controlled trials. The scale is explained on our methodology page.
Semax is not named on the WADA list, though the general rule on non-approved substances (S0) can still apply. Pinealon is banned by WADA, by name or as part of a named class.