SemaxA synthetic fragment of the hormone ACTH used as a nasal medicine in Russia, mainly after stroke. Evidence for…Not authorized in Canada
SelankA Russian-developed nasal peptide studied for anxiety, mainly as an add-on to a benzodiazepine. Not authorized in…Not authorized in Canada
DihexaAn angiotensin IV analog developed in a university lab for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's research. Animal data only; we…Not authorized in Canada
CerebrolysinA mixture of peptides from pig brain used in several countries for stroke. A 2023 Cochrane review found it probably…Not authorized in Canada (approved elsewhere)
DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide)Isolated from rabbit blood in 1977 and named for sleep, but a 2006 review called the sleep link "extremely poorly…Not authorized in CanadaEvidence at a glance
Status and evidence table
| Peptide | Canada status | Human evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Semax | Not authorized in Canada | Limited: small or low-quality human studies (mostly Russian stroke studies) |
| Selank | Not authorized in Canada | Limited: small or low-quality human studies |
| Dihexa | Not authorized in Canada | Very limited: almost all animal or cell studies |
| Cerebrolysin | Not authorized in Canada (approved elsewhere) | Moderate-certainty evidence of no benefit on death after stroke (Cochrane 2023) |
| DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide) | Not authorized in Canada | Very limited: almost all animal or cell studies |
Status reflects Health Canada's peptide pages, its April 2026 advisory and the Drug Product Database as checked on November 10, 2026. Authorized products carry an 8-digit DIN (drugs) or NPN (natural health products).