What is the difference between Cortexin and Selank?

Cortexin: Polypeptide nootropic extracted from the cortex of cattle or pigs, containing a mixture of low-molecular-weight neuropeptides (≤10 kDa). Registered pharmaceutical in Russia and widely used in Eastern European clinical medicine for stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury, cognitive decline, epilepsy, and cerebrovascular disease. Decades of Russian clinical literature support neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects. Selank: Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide derived from tuftsin, an endogenous immunomodulatory peptide. Developed in Russia by the Institute of Molecular Genetics, it has been studied extensively for anxiolytic, nootropic, and immunomodulatory effects. It is registered as a medication in Russia and Ukraine. Both are in the Nootropic & Cognitive category but differ in mechanism, dosing, and research evidence — see the full comparison.

Can you take Cortexin and Selank together?

There is no specific, well-documented interaction rule for combining Cortexin and Selank in the aggregated research reviewed. Combining peptides should only be considered under professional supervision. This is not medical advice.

Which is better researched, Cortexin or Selank?

Cortexin is currently research-stage and Selank is research-stage. "Better researched" depends on your research goal — review each profile's cited sources.

Nootropic & Cognitive · Comparison

Cortexin vs Selank

A neutral, side-by-side comparison of two nootropic & cognitive peptides — their mechanisms, dosing ranges, administration routes, side effects, and research evidence. For research and educational purposes only.

Cortexin

Research-stage

Polypeptide nootropic extracted from the cortex of cattle or pigs, containing a mixture of low-molecular-weight neuropeptides (≤10 kDa). Registered pharmaceutical in Russia and widely used in Eastern European clinical medicine for stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury, cognitive decline, epilepsy, and cerebrovascular disease. Decades of Russian clinical literature support neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects.

Full profile

Selank

Research-stage

Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide derived from tuftsin, an endogenous immunomodulatory peptide. Developed in Russia by the Institute of Molecular Genetics, it has been studied extensively for anxiolytic, nootropic, and immunomodulatory effects. It is registered as a medication in Russia and Ukraine.

Full profile

	Cortexin	Selank
Category	Nootropic & Cognitive	Nootropic & Cognitive
Also known as	cortexin polypeptide, cortexin-10, neuropeptide bioregulator, cortexin-5	TP-7, Tuftsin analog
Evidence	Research-stage	Research-stage
Dosing range	5mg–20mg mg, daily IM injection for 10-day courses	250mcg–1000mcg mcg, 1–2x daily
Administration	Intramuscular injection	Intranasal (most common — direct CNS delivery), Subcutaneous injection
Key side effects	Injection site pain, Rare allergic reaction, Headache (transient), Mild dizziness	Mild sedation at high doses, Nasal irritation (intranasal route), Generally very well-tolerated, No reported dependence or withdrawal
Cited sources	2 references	1 reference

Key differences

Administration: Cortexin — Intramuscular injection; Selank — Intranasal (most common — direct CNS delivery), Subcutaneous injection.
Dosing units differ: Cortexin is dosed in mg, Selank in mcg — they operate at different scales.
Frequency: Cortexin is typically daily IM injection for 10-day courses; Selank is 1–2x daily.
Research depth: this profile cites 2 sources for Cortexin vs 1 for Selank.

How each works

Cortexin

Cortexin's multi-component neuropeptide mixture modulates neurotransmitter systems, improves cerebral blood flow, enhances neuroplasticity (BDNF upregulation), and exhibits antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activity in neuronal tissue. Russian stroke rehabilitation trials show improved neurological deficit scores and functional recovery with 10-day cortexin courses compared to standard care alone. The mechanism involves multiple parallel neuropeptide signaling pathways.

Selank

Selank modulates GABA-A receptors and influences BDNF expression, producing anxiolytic effects comparable to benzodiazepines without sedation or dependence. Russian clinical studies report improvements in generalized anxiety disorder, cognitive performance, and mood stability. It also appears to modulate T-helper cell ratios and interferon production.

Read the full Cortexin profile Read the full Selank profile

This comparison aggregates public research and structured profile data for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and does not recommend either compound for human use. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before considering any peptide.