Peptides DB
Research-centric peptide and protocol reference hub

Melanotan II record · updated 6h ago

Skin & aestheticsMetabolic & appetiteGrade A · human clinicalResearch use only
All 15 studiesJump to the evidenceCompare
What is Melanotan II used for?

Melanotan II is a synthetic analog of the naturally occurring peptide hormone alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), primarily studied for its effects on skin pigmentation and potential therapeutic applications. Research has also explored its impact on mood and stress responses, though caution is advised due to potential side effects and safety concerns.

How it works: Melanocortin-receptor agonist

Primarily researched for · Skin & aestheticsRoute · Subcutaneous injection (research use)

Development stage

where Melanotan II sits between preclinical work and regulatory approval
  1. 1Cleared
    Preclinical
    Animal / in-vitro work
  2. 2Cleared
    Phase 1
    Safety in humans
  3. 3Cleared
    Phase 2
    Efficacy signal
  4. 4Current
    Phase 3
    Confirmatory trials
  5. 5Not reached
    Approved
    Cleared by a regulator

Stage is inferred from the highest trial phase in the indexed corpus and 107 registered trials. It describes the research record, not a recommendation.

Identity
NameMelanotan II
Chain length7 amino acids
Molecular weight1,024.2 Da
FormulaC50H69N15O9
Structure typePeptide
ClassAesthetic
Research levelModerate Research
Discovered byAdded before provenance tracking · 2025

Mass and formula from PubChem CID 92432. The chain length is only shown where the residues account for that mass, so a figure here has been checked against it rather than taken on trust.

Pharmacology
MechanismMelanocortin-receptor agonist
RouteSubcutaneous injection (research use)
Half-life—
Time to peak—
Duration—
Extraction confidence0.50
Effect profile · 0–5
These seven scores are generated by the Librarian — an autonomous agent running GPT-4o over the indexed studies, trials and label data for this compound. No human assigns them and no community vote moves them. Last recomputed Aug 23, 2026. How this works →
Research stats
Total studies15
Human / animal / cellular5 / 4 / 0
Highest trial phasePhase 3
Years covered2010–2026
Latest study29d ago
Publication history
20102026
Research funding
40 NIH projects · $11.7M awarded · through FY2026
Public grants naming this compound. Funding is interest, not evidence.
Safety signals
FAERS reports12
Serious AEs in animal work—
Community reports—
Positive —Neutral —Negative —
Records

Study register

15 rows · newest 12 shownOpen in the library →
StudyTypeYearSummary depth
Controlling mountain-type zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in China: Current progress and challenges through a One Health lens.
FindingAverage total score was 47.77/100 (range: 38.59-61.72).
review2026Full text read0.70
Direct photoreception by pituitary endocrine cells regulates hormone release and pigmentation.
TakeawayNot reported in abstract.
—2025Title only0.10
Leptin enhances the intracellular thyroid hormone activation in skeletal muscle to boost energy balance.
TakeawayNot reported in abstract.
—2025Title only0.10
Tebentafusp (IMCgp100), a first in class immune-mobilizing monoclonal T-cell receptors against cancer (ImmTAC) for HLA-A*02:01 positive uveal melanoma: Product review.
FindingNot reported in abstract.
review2026Full text read0.70
Integrative multi-omics Mendelian randomization reveals key lipid metabolism genes as therapeutic targets for diabetic nephropathy pathogenesis.
FindingCERS2: OR = 1.246, p_SMR = 0.027
review2026Full text read0.80
Assessing nutritional risk and its association with mortality in ICU patients using the modified NUTRIC score: evidence from a tertiary care hospital.
FindingAdjusted odds ratio for low nutritional risk associated with mortality was 0.51 (95% CI 0.28-0.91).
Human2026Full text read0.90
Association of central α-klotho with dopaminergic and melanocortin receptors on feed intake regulation in chicken.
FindingNot reported in abstract.
Animal2026Full text read0.80
Low dose systemic AAV-exendin-4 gene therapy for Prader-Willi syndrome and dietary obesity.
FindingNot reported in abstract.
Animal2026Full text read0.70
Five primary melanomas in situ in a patient with recent tanning bed use, melanotan exposure, and anabolic hormone use.
FindingNot reported in abstract.
Human2026Full text read0.70
Melanocortin receptor agonist melanotan-II microinjected in the nucleus accumbens decreases appetitive and consumptive responding for food
FindingNot reported in abstract.
Animal2022Full text read0.70
Changes in Oral Mucosa Associated with Melanotan II Injections: A Case Report.
FindingNot reported in abstract.
Human2026Full text read0.70
Semantic Scholar search for Melanotan II
TakeawayNot reported in abstract.
—2010Title only0.00

What people are saying

anecdotal · not evidence

Unverified first-hand accounts from public forums. These are not studies: nobody checked what was taken, whether it was what the label said, or what else was going on. They count for nothing in the evidence grade above and are shown because a reader searching Melanotan II will meet them anyway, and meeting them next to a graded evidence base is better than meeting them alone.

Community collection has not run yet, so this is an empty shelf rather than a quiet one — nothing has been read, and no conclusion about how much Melanotan II is discussed should be drawn from it.

Articles mentioning Melanotan II