Category: signaling
Russian + Eastern European neuro-peptide pharmacology developed largely separately from Western Rx pathways; few of these have FDA approval but several have Russian Pharmacopeia listings + intranasal Rx availability. Semax (ACTH-4-10 derivative — Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) — BDNF upregulation, MAO modulation; cognitive enhancement + stroke recovery Russian Rx. Selank (TFTGAS-Pro-Gly-Pro — tuftsin analog) — anxiolytic via GABA + 5-HT modulation; Russian Rx (intranasal). N-acetyl variants are stability-enhanced. Cerebrolysin — porcine brain-derived peptide mixture; vascular dementia + Alzheimer's Eastern European Rx; IV/IM. Pinealon (Epitalamin) + Epithalon + Vilon — Khavinson "bioregulator" peptides; longevity claims with limited Western validation. Dihexa — angiotensin-IV analog → HGF/c-Met activation → synaptogenesis claim (research-stage).