Calm Focus: what the research says about Selank and Semax
Calm Focus combines Selank and Semax. The research section below covers each one.
Calm Focus from USA Standard Research: nasal spray, Selank 5 mg and Semax 5 mg per 10 mL bottle; or dissolving strips, Selank 1 mg and Semax 1 mg per strip, 30 strips. Sold for research use only.
Editorial discussion starter: which finding would you like explained, and what does the research leave open? Share public sources. Please leave out personal medical details and dosing.
The research
Selank
Peptide studied in small Russian trials for anxiety; registered in Russia as nasal drops.
Small human studies and animal research
What it is studied for
Selank has been studied for anxiety symptoms and changes in nerve signalling. A 2008 study of 62 people compared it with medazepam; separate rat experiments measured changes in genes involved in neurotransmission. A 2014 study of 60 people with anxiety disorders compared it with phenazepam, a benzodiazepine.
What the evidence says
The 2008 comparison reported similar anxiety outcomes between groups, but that alone cannot establish broad effectiveness or long-term safety. The 2014 study was also small and is published in Russian. FDA says important human safety information for Selank acetate is missing, and that compounded Selank acetate may carry a risk of immune reactions by some routes.
Semax
Peptide researched in Russia for stroke recovery and as a nootropic; FDA's 2026 review found little evidence in people.
Animal research; limited clinical evidence
What it is studied for
Researchers investigate responses to reduced blood flow in the brain. One rat study measured neurotrophin-related gene activity after an induced stroke-like injury; this is a biological signal, not a human recovery outcome. Small human studies, mostly published in Russian, looked at stroke rehabilitation and at brain-scan activity in healthy adults.
What the evidence says
FDA’s 2026 assessment found insufficient evidence to support effectiveness for cerebral ischemia, migraine or trigeminal neuralgia. Animal gene-expression findings do not establish better memory or clinical recovery in people. FDA also found too little information to describe its safety in people and noted a possible blood-thinning effect that raises bleeding concerns.
Calm Focus
- Nasal spray Selank 5 mg and Semax 5 mg per 10 mL bottle
- Dissolving strips Selank 1 mg and Semax 1 mg per strip, 30 strips
Sold by USA Standard Research, the team behind PeptidesGenie, for research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.
Research cited
- 1Selank in generalized anxiety disorders and neurasthenia (2008) Small human comparative study
- 2Medvedev et al. (2014): Selank compared with phenazepam in anxiety disorders (in Russian) Small human comparative study
- 3
- 4FDA: Bulk substances that may present significant safety risks FDA safety information
- 5
- 6Gusev et al. (2018): Semax in patients at different stages of ischemic stroke (in Russian) Human clinical study, not randomized
- 7
- 8FDA (2026): Evaluation of Semax-related bulk drug substances FDA scientific assessment