Bowery Clinic Expands Physician-Guided Peptide Program With In-Depth Look at Selank, a Synthetic Peptide Studied for Stress, Anxiety, and Cognitive Support

New York, NY, September 4th, 2026, FinanceWire

Telehealth clinic publishes educational overview of the tuftsin-derived peptide as patient interest in nootropic and anxiolytic peptides continues to rise.

NEW YORK, NY, September 03, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- Bowery Clinic, a concierge-style telehealth clinic specializing in physician-led peptide and metabolic care, has expanded its Selank program for eligible patients in the United States. Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide that has drawn growing attention for its potential role in stress resilience, anxiety reduction, and cognitive performance. This expansion is part of the clinic's ongoing effort to help patients understand emerging peptide therapies before deciding, together with a licensed physician, whether a given protocol is appropriate for them.

What is Selank

Selank is a synthetic analog of tuftsin, a naturally occurring immunomodulatory tetrapeptide with the sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg. Selank extends this tuftsin core with three additional amino acids — Pro-Gly-Pro — giving it the full sequence Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro (TKPRPGP). This structure and Selank’s relationship to tuftsin are well documented in published scientific literature such as in the Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine.

Selank was developed through Russian peptide-research programs involving institutions within the Russian Academy of Sciences. A 2022 peer-reviewed Russian review lists Selank among peptide products registered in the Russian Federation and classifies it as an anxiolytic.

In the United States, Selank is not FDA-approved for any indication. Its removal from the FDA's Category 2 list reflects a withdrawn bulk substance nomination and does not signal FDA clearance or approval for compounding.

How Researchers Believe It Works

Selank's proposed mechanisms involve several neurological and biochemical pathways, although much of the mechanistic evidence remains preclinical.

• GABAergic modulation: Preclinical research suggests Selank may influence GABAergic neurotransmission. Studies have reported changes in genes involved in GABA signaling and have proposed allosteric modulation of the GABAergic system as one possible mechanism behind its observed anxiolytic effects. Additional laboratory work has reported effects on GABA binding.
• Serotonin and enkephalin activity: Animal research has found changes in serotonin and other monoamine systems following Selank administration. Separate research has shown that Selank can inhibit enzymes responsible for degrading enkephalins, suggesting another potential pathway involved in its anxiolytic activity.
• BDNF expression: Researchers have also investigated Selank's relationship with brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF. An intranasal animal study reported regulation of BDNF expression in the hippocampus, while subsequent preclinical research has continued to explore the relationship between Selank, BDNF, memory, and attention. 
• Immune signaling: Because Selank is derived from the tuftsin peptide structure, researchers have also examined possible immunomodulatory effects. A small human study investigated changes in immune parameters among patients with anxiety-asthenic disorders.

What the Research Shows — and What It Doesn't

The published evidence base for Selank consists largely of Russian preclinical research and a relatively small number of human studies, many of which were conducted in Russia and involved modest sample sizes.

One study involving 62 patients with generalized anxiety disorder or neurasthenia compared Selank with medazepam and reported similar anxiolytic effects between the groups, with additional antiasthenic and psychostimulant effects reported for Selank. Another 60-patient study comparing Selank with phenazepam reported anxiolytic effects and mild nootropic effects in the Selank group. 

Additional research has evaluated Selank alongside phenazepam and reported reductions in several phenazepam-associated adverse effects, including sedation and attention and memory impairment. These findings are interesting but should not be interpreted as establishing Selank as equivalent to, safer than, or a replacement for FDA-approved anxiety treatments.

Bowery Clinic emphasizes that the existing findings have not been established through the type of large, multicenter clinical development program required for FDA approval. Long-term safety data and independently replicated studies in diverse populations remain limited. Patients should understand that Selank is a non-FDA-approved peptide in the U.S. and that decisions regarding its use require a candid discussion of the available evidence, its limitations, and the patient's individual medical history.

"Selank is a good example of an emerging peptide that has a compelling mechanism and growing clinical interest,” said Dr. Kyle Hoedebecke, Chief Medical Officer at Bowery Clinic. “Our approach is physician-led and highly individualized. We evaluate each patient’s medical history, current medications, symptoms, and goals to determine whether Selank may be appropriate for them. If it is, we focus on responsible prescribing, personalized protocols, and ongoing physician oversight throughout treatment.

Who Is Asking About Selank

The clinic reports that patient inquiries about Selank most often come from adults interested in stress and anxiety support, professionals and students exploring potential cognitive support, and existing peptide patients who want to understand how Selank may fit alongside other protocols.

Selank is also frequently discussed alongside Semax, another Russian-developed peptide with a distinct research profile. Physicians at Bowery Clinic can help patients understand the differences between the available evidence for the two peptides and whether either is appropriate for their individual goals.

Administration, Dosing, and Safety Considerations

Selank has been studied most notably through intranasal administration in human research, while other routes have also appeared in preclinical studies. Dosing and administration through Bowery Clinic are individualized by the prescribing physician based on the patient's medical history, treatment goals, tolerance, and response.

Available clinical studies have reported few acute side effects among small patient cohorts; however, comprehensive long-term safety, adverse event, and toxicity profiles have not been established in large-scale U.S. clinical trials for Selank. 

Because formal drug-interaction studies are limited, patients should disclose their use of benzodiazepines, antidepressants, stimulants, and other psychoactive medications to their physician before considering Selank. This is particularly important because experimental research suggests Selank may influence GABAergic and monoaminergic signaling.

Safety has also not been adequately established in pregnancy, breastfeeding, or pediatric populations. Bowery Clinic does not position Selank as a replacement for evidence-based treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, depression, or other psychiatric conditions. Patients with active psychiatric conditions requiring specialist management are referred to appropriate mental-health care.

Why Physician Oversight Matters

The growth of online peptide vendors selling "research chemicals" without prescriptions, quality testing, or medical guidance has become a significant patient-safety concern. Products sold this way may be mislabeled, underdosed, contaminated, or degraded, and users have no clinician to consult if something goes wrong.

Bowery Clinic's model is built to address that gap. Every patient is evaluated by a licensed physician before any peptide is prescribed. Prescriptions are filled by state-licensed U.S. compounding pharmacies adhering to applicable federal and state compounding regulations, and patients have continuing access to their care team throughout treatment for dose adjustments, side-effect management, and reassessment.

Where Bowery Clinic Provides Care

Bowery Clinic provides physician-guided peptide and metabolic care through telehealth to eligible patients in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Patients in these states can consult with a licensed clinician about Selank and other peptide therapies, where clinically appropriate and permitted under applicable state regulations.

About Bowery Clinic

Bowery Clinic is a physician-led, concierge-style telehealth clinic focused on evidence-informed peptide and metabolic medicine. The clinic offers personalized treatment plans in areas including metabolic health and weight management, recovery and tissue support, cognitive and stress resilience, longevity, and hormone optimization. Patients complete a streamlined online intake, meet with a licensed clinician via telehealth, and receive an individualized plan with ongoing, high-touch support from the clinic's medical team.

What distinguishes Bowery Clinic is its commitment to real medical oversight. The clinic is staffed by licensed physicians who review every patient's history, screen for contraindications and drug interactions, write every prescription, and remain available for follow-up care. Bowery Clinic does not sell unapproved research peptides directly to consumers, does not operate as a supplement retailer, and does not use automated or non-clinician prescribing. When a peptide is clinically appropriate, it is dispensed through state-licensed U.S. compounding pharmacies and shipped directly to the patient.

For more information, or to begin an intake, visit boweryclinic.com.

Disclaimer

This press release is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Selank is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. Statements regarding Selank's mechanisms and effects reflect published preclinical and early clinical research and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Individual results vary. Treatment is available only where a licensed physician determines it to be clinically appropriate following a medical evaluation. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new therapy.

Media Contact

Peter Arian

Bowery Clinic

members@boweryclinic.com

SOURCE: Bowery Clinic

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