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Comparison

DSIP vs Selank

Both are nootropic & neuro, so the meaningful differences are in kinetics, evidence and regulatory status.

DSIP Selank
Class Nootropic & neuro Nootropic & neuro
Evidence Preliminary human Preliminary human
Human trials ~7 ~6
Half-life ~7-15 minutes ~30 minutes (intranasal)
Reported range 100-300 mcg 250-750 mcg
Frequency Once nightly before bed 1-3x daily intranasal
Routes Subcutaneous, Intramuscular Intranasal, Subcutaneous
FDA approved No No
Research use only Yes Yes
Banned in sport No No
Studied for Sleep research, Stress and chronic pain research Generalised anxiety research, Stress resilience, Cognitive support
Reported side effects Headache, Grogginess, Injection-site reactions Nasal irritation, Transient drowsiness, Headache

DSIP

DSIP was identified in cerebral venous blood of rabbits during electrically induced delta-wave sleep, and named for that observation. Its mechanism remains poorly defined, with proposed activity spanning modulation of corticotropin release, opioid signalling and thermoregulation. Human studies of sleep effects have produced mixed and often null results, so the name substantially oversells the reproducible evidence.

Selank

Selank is a heptapeptide built from the immunomodulatory tetrapeptide tuftsin with a proline-glycine-proline extension added for stability. It appears to act by modulating the expression and metabolism of enkephalins and by influencing GABAergic and serotonergic signalling, producing anxiolysis without the sedation, motor impairment or withdrawal associated with benzodiazepines. It is registered as a medicine in Russia; Western trial evidence is limited.

DSIP vs Selank: common questions

What is the difference between DSIP and Selank?

Both are nootropic & neuro. DSIP: A nonapeptide isolated from rabbit brain during sleep induction, with inconsistent human results despite the name. Selank: A synthetic tuftsin analog developed in Russia as an anxiolytic without sedation or dependence.

Which has stronger evidence, DSIP or Selank?

They sit at the same evidence level: preliminary human. DSIP has about 7 human studies and Selank about 6.

Are DSIP and Selank FDA approved?

Neither is FDA approved for any indication.

References

Regulatory and primary sources

  1. PubChem compound record (CID 68816) ↗ · structure, identifiers, synonyms
  2. FDA: Unapproved drugs and "research use only" products ↗ · regulatory status of non-approved products
  3. CAS Registry Number 62568-57-4 ↗ · chemical identity
  4. PubChem compound record (CID 11765600) ↗ · structure, identifiers, synonyms
  5. CAS Registry Number 129954-34-3 ↗ · chemical identity

Published literature

  1. Pollard BJ, Pomfrett CJ. Delta sleep-inducing peptide.Eur J Anaesthesiol 2001.PubMed 11437870 · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2346.2001.00917.x
  2. Rahman OF, Lee SJ, Seeds WA. Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions.J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev 2026.PubMed 41490200 · doi:10.5435/JAAOSGlobal-D-25-00236
  3. Steiger A, Holsboer F. Neuropeptides and human sleep.Sleep 1997.PubMed 9456470
  4. Banks WA. Peptides and the blood-brain barrier.Peptides 2015.PubMed 25805003 · doi:10.1016/j.peptides.2015.03.010
  5. Kovalzon VM, Strekalova TV. Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP): a still unresolved riddle.J Neurochem 2006.PubMed 16539679 · doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.03693.x
  6. Meisenberg G, Simmons WH. Minireview. Peptides and the blood-brain barrier.Life Sci 1983.PubMed 6304442 · doi:10.1016/0024-3205(83)90352-1
  7. Schneider-Helmert D. DSIP in insomnia.Eur Neurol 1984.PubMed 6391925 · doi:10.1159/000115714
  8. Graf MV, Kastin AJ. Delta-sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP): a review.Neurosci Biobehav Rev 1984.PubMed 6145137 · doi:10.1016/0149-7634(84)90022-8
  9. Siebert A, Gensicka-Kowalewska M, Cholewinski G, et al.. Tuftsin - Properties and Analogs.Curr Med Chem 2017.PubMed 28745220 · doi:10.2174/0929867324666170725140826
  10. Sano Y, Sakamoto A, Oi Y, et al.. Anaesthesia and circulating blood volume.Eur J Anaesthesiol 2005.PubMed 15892402 · doi:10.1017/s0265021505000438
  11. Medvedev VE, Tereshchenko ON, Kost NV, et al.. [Optimization of the treatment of anxiety disorders with selank].Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2015.PubMed 26356395 · doi:10.17116/jnevro20151156133-40
  12. Medvedev VE, Tereshchenko ON, Israelian AIu, et al.. [A comparison of the anxiolytic effect and tolerability of selank and phenazepam in the treatment of anxiety disorders].Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2014.PubMed 25176261
  13. Alevizos B, Alevizos E, Leonardou A, et al.. Low dosage lithium augmentation in venlafaxine resistant depression: an open-label study.Psychiatriki 2012.PubMed 22796912
  14. Zozulia AA, Neznamov GG, Siuniakov TS, et al.. [Efficacy and possible mechanisms of action of a new peptide anxiolytic selank in the therapy of generalized anxiety disorders and neurasthenia].Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2008.PubMed 18454096
  15. Liapina LA, Pastorova VE, Obergan TIu, et al.. [Comparison of anticoagulant effects of regulatory proline-containing oligopeptides. Specificity of glyprolines, semax, and selank and potential of their practical application].Izv Akad Nauk Ser Biol 2006.PubMed 16634437

Literature retrieved from PubMed on October 16, 2026, favouring human studies and reviews. Numbered markers in the text show which paper supports which statement; uncited entries are background reading.

Read this first This page compares published reference data. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use either compound. Several compounds documented on this site are not approved for human use.