Acetyl tetrapeptide-5
is used in cosmetic eye formulations to decrease puffiness, eye bags, and dark circles by reducing edema and protecting proteins such as SOD from glycation
Alanine
Ala / A · hydrophobic residue · neutral charge
AOD-9604
is studied as an anti-obesity peptide that can reduce weight gain and increase fat oxidation in obese animal models with generally neutral effects on IGF-1 and glucose metabolism in early human trials
Arginine
Arg / R · basic residue · positive charge
Argireline
is a topical cosmetic peptide reported to decrease dynamic wrinkles by partially mimicking the mechanism of botulinum toxin in a non-invasive manner
Asparagine
Asn / N · polar residue · neutral charge
Aspartic acid
Asp / D · acidic residue · negative charge
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 effects
Comparison
While Dulaglutide is a once-weekly GLP-1RA for type 2 diabetes that lowers HbA1c and body weight by enhancing glucose-dependent insulin secretion and reducing appetite6668, 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.
While Dulaglutide works as a recombinant fusion protein consisting of two disulfide-linked GLP-1(7–37) analogs each covalently fused via a linker to an IgG4 Fc fragment, yielding a large, long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist protected from DPP-4 degradation66, 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.
Dulaglutide
GCG
Semax
POMC
Dulaglutide and Semax are noticeably different, with limited direct overlap in their usual biological context. Their typical research and application settings separate fairly clearly: Dulaglutide is more often discussed in the realm of Metabolic and endocrine, whereas Semax is more often associated with the realm of Neurology and brain health and Ophthalmology. They also influence different molecular systems, with Dulaglutide tracking more closely to GLP-1 receptor while Semax centers more on GPCR receptor. Dulaglutide has a more engineered peptide origin, while Semax is closer to synthetic analog background and their development context also differs, with Dulaglutide approved while Semax is approved for Research use only. Dulaglutide takes the form of a peptide conjugate, whereas Semax is closer to a linear peptide.