Function
While BPC-157 is investigated for accelerating healing of gastrointestinal mucosa, tendons, ligaments, bone, and nervous tissue in preclinical models, with anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic effects111, Semax is used clinically in Russia for ischemic stroke and cognitive disorders; in models it improves learning, protects dopaminergic neurons, and modulates stress responses without significant endocrine ACTH-like effects166174.
Mechanism
While BPC-157 works as a synthetic 15-amino-acid fragment of a gastric cytoprotective protein that promotes angiogenesis and tissue protection primarily by modulating VEGFR2 signaling, Src/caveolin-1–dependent eNOS activation, and nitric oxide production111, Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide, Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro (MEHFPGP), that is an analog of ACTH(4–10) with a Pro-Gly-Pro extension and exerts neurotrophic and neuroprotective actions partly via upregulation of BDNF and modulation of dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems40162165174.
Length and Sequence
BPC-157 is 15 amino acids long, whereas Semax is shorter as it has a length of 7 amino acids. BPC-157 is made up of a sequence of Glycine, Glutamic acid, Proline, Proline, Proline, Glycine, Lysine, Proline, Alanine, Aspartic acid, Aspartic acid, Alanine, Glycine, Leucine, Valine. Semax is made up of a sequence of Methionine, Glutamic acid, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Glycine, Proline.