What is the difference between Melanotan II and PT-141 (Bremelanotide)?

Melanotan II is classified as: Synthetic cyclic analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH); non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist. PT-141 (Bremelanotide) is classified as: Melanocortin receptor agonist; synthetic cyclic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). Melanotan II is not an approved medicine and is subject to regulatory restrictions in one or more regions. PT-141 (Bremelanotide) is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction.

Is Melanotan II or PT-141 (Bremelanotide) approved?

Melanotan II is not an approved medicine and is subject to regulatory restrictions in one or more regions. PT-141 (Bremelanotide) is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Regulatory status by region is set out in the table above.

How much clinical trial evidence is tracked for Melanotan II and PT-141 (Bremelanotide)?

Peptide Science Daily tracks 1 registered clinical trials for Melanotan II (evidence grade C) and 10 for PT-141 (Bremelanotide) (evidence grade A).

Compound comparison

Melanotan II vs PT-141 (Bremelanotide)

This page sets Melanotan II and PT-141 (Bremelanotide) side by side using the data recorded on Peptide Science Daily: drug class, mechanism of action, regulatory status by region, the evidence grade assigned here, and the number of clinical trials tracked. It is a neutral, factual comparison and does not rank either compound or recommend one over the other.

Side-by-side comparison

Class: Melanotan II
Synthetic cyclic analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH); non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist
PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
Melanocortin receptor agonist; synthetic cyclic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH)
Mechanism: Melanotan II
In plain terms, melanotan II switches on the pigment-producing pathway in the skin (causing tanning) and also acts on brain pathways linked to sexual arousal and appetite.
PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
Bremelanotide is a non-selective agonist of melanocortin receptors (MC1R-MC5R, with the exception of MC2R), acting principally at MC4R (and MC3R) within the central nervous system.
United States (FDA): Melanotan II
Not approved for any use; the FDA treats melanotan II as an unapproved new drug that is marketed illegally, including as an injectable tanning product.
PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
Approved June 21, 2019 as Vyleesi (bremelanotide) for acquired, generalized HSDD in premenopausal women; prescription medicine.
European Union (EMA): Melanotan II
No EU marketing authorisation. Melanotan II is an unlicensed product; European medicines regulators, including the UK's MHRA, have issued public safety warnings, and its sale is illegal in the UK.
PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
No EMA marketing authorisation; not an approved medicine in the EU (European commercialisation rights licensed to Gedeon Richter were terminated in 2016 and no EU approval followed).
Australia (TGA): Melanotan II
Not on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG); melanotan I and II are unapproved substances, and the TGA has warned consumers against unapproved injectable tanning products. Supply for therapeutic use falls in the prescription-only class.
PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
Not registered on the ARTG; no approved bremelanotide/Vyleesi product in Australia. Compounded or imported PT-141 is unapproved.
WADA: Melanotan II
Not specifically named on the WADA Prohibited List; melanocortin receptor agonists are not a listed prohibited class. As an unapproved substance, athletes should nonetheless verify its current status.
PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
Not specifically named on the WADA Prohibited List. As an approved medicine it is not captured by the S0 non-approved-substances clause, and it does not fall within a listed prohibited class; athletes should nonetheless verify current status.
Evidence grade: Melanotan II
C
PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
A
Tracked clinical trials: Melanotan II
1
PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
10
Full profile: Melanotan II
Melanotan II profile
PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
PT-141 (Bremelanotide) profile

Comparison of Melanotan II and PT-141 (Bremelanotide) by class, mechanism, regulatory status by region, evidence grade, and number of tracked clinical trials.
Attribute	Melanotan II	PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
Class	Synthetic cyclic analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH); non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist	Melanocortin receptor agonist; synthetic cyclic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH)
Mechanism	In plain terms, melanotan II switches on the pigment-producing pathway in the skin (causing tanning) and also acts on brain pathways linked to sexual arousal and appetite.	Bremelanotide is a non-selective agonist of melanocortin receptors (MC1R-MC5R, with the exception of MC2R), acting principally at MC4R (and MC3R) within the central nervous system.
United States (FDA)	Not approved for any use; the FDA treats melanotan II as an unapproved new drug that is marketed illegally, including as an injectable tanning product.	Approved June 21, 2019 as Vyleesi (bremelanotide) for acquired, generalized HSDD in premenopausal women; prescription medicine.
European Union (EMA)	No EU marketing authorisation. Melanotan II is an unlicensed product; European medicines regulators, including the UK's MHRA, have issued public safety warnings, and its sale is illegal in the UK.	No EMA marketing authorisation; not an approved medicine in the EU (European commercialisation rights licensed to Gedeon Richter were terminated in 2016 and no EU approval followed).
Australia (TGA)	Not on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG); melanotan I and II are unapproved substances, and the TGA has warned consumers against unapproved injectable tanning products. Supply for therapeutic use falls in the prescription-only class.	Not registered on the ARTG; no approved bremelanotide/Vyleesi product in Australia. Compounded or imported PT-141 is unapproved.
WADA	Not specifically named on the WADA Prohibited List; melanocortin receptor agonists are not a listed prohibited class. As an unapproved substance, athletes should nonetheless verify its current status.	Not specifically named on the WADA Prohibited List. As an approved medicine it is not captured by the S0 non-approved-substances clause, and it does not fall within a listed prohibited class; athletes should nonetheless verify current status.
Evidence grade	C	A
Tracked clinical trials	1	10
Full profile	Melanotan II profile	PT-141 (Bremelanotide) profile

Common questions

What is the difference between Melanotan II and PT-141 (Bremelanotide)?: Melanotan II is classified as: Synthetic cyclic analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH); non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist. PT-141 (Bremelanotide) is classified as: Melanocortin receptor agonist; synthetic cyclic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH). Melanotan II is not an approved medicine and is subject to regulatory restrictions in one or more regions. PT-141 (Bremelanotide) is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction.
Is Melanotan II or PT-141 (Bremelanotide) approved?: Melanotan II is not an approved medicine and is subject to regulatory restrictions in one or more regions. PT-141 (Bremelanotide) is approved for one or more medical uses in at least one major jurisdiction. Regulatory status by region is set out in the table above.
How much clinical trial evidence is tracked for Melanotan II and PT-141 (Bremelanotide)?: Peptide Science Daily tracks 1 registered clinical trials for Melanotan II (evidence grade C) and 10 for PT-141 (Bremelanotide) (evidence grade A).