Comparison

Exenatide vs Semax

Function

While Exenatide is used for type 2 diabetes treatment to improve glycemic control and modestly reduce body weight through GLP-1–like insulinotropic and glucagonostatic effects6768, 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 Exenatide works as a 39-amino-acid exendin-4 peptide originally isolated from Gila monster venom that acts as a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist resistant to DPP-4 degradation67, 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

Exenatide is 39 amino acids long, whereas Semax is shorter as it has a length of 7 amino acids. Exenatide is made up of a sequence of sequence data not available in the current dataset. Semax is made up of a sequence of Methionine, Glutamic acid, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Glycine, Proline.

Receptor

Exenatide

GLP-1 receptor (GLP1R) 6780

Semax

Targets are not fully defined; interacts with melanocortin-related pathways and inhibits certain peptidases, but no single dominant receptor has been established174

Organism or Origin

Exenatide

Originally from Heloderma suspectum (Gila monster) venom; now produced synthetically67

Semax

Synthetic analog of human ACTH(4–10) derived from POMC1748190

Gene

Exenatide

Not assigned in the current dataset.

Semax

POMC

Sources

67Exendin 4 – Potent GLP-1R agonist - SB PEPTIDE, https://www.sb-peptide.com/project/exendin-4-potent-glp-1r-agonist/
68Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues: An overview - PMC, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3712370/
80GLP-1 Localisation and Proglucagon Gene Expression in ..., https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6200298/
40Semax ACTH(4-10) Analog Peptide ≥99% | VivePeptides, https://vivepeptides.com/product/semax/
81Proopiomelanocortin (POMC), the ACTH/melanocortin precursor, is ..., https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2253185/
90alpha-Melanocyte stimulating hormone: production and degradation, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3936413/
162Semax 0.1% 10 mg | SEMAX POLAND, https://semaxpolska.com/en/semax-01-10-mg/
166The neuroprotective effects of Semax in conditions ..., https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15341218/
170Semax, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro
171Semax peptide - NovoPro Bioscience Inc., https://www.novoprolabs.com/p/acth4-10-317047.html
174Semax - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semax