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Melanotan II

Melanocortin

A synthetic melanocortin peptide originally developed for tanning—now notorious for unregulated online sale.

Updated August 13, 2026 · By The Peptide Dex — Research Editorial

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Melanotan II

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Structure (cute edition)

Simplified amino acid chain for Melanotan II

✨ real molecule sketch

This peptide is a short chain of about 4 amino acids—think of it as a tiny protein necklace on your label.

INCI: Melanotan II · ~4 amino acids in our simplified view

Research & public records

Counts and links from public databases (PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, Wikidata, NIH drug nomenclature). Educational only — not medical advice.

Knowledge base: chemical compound — Wikipedia

PubMed: 194 indexed papers (search PubMed)

Changes in Oral Mucosa Associated with Melanotan II Injections: A Case Report. · Life (Basel, Switzerland)
Melanotan II nasal spray: a possible risk factor for oral mucosal malignant melanoma? · International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery
Antidepressant-like and antistress effects of the ACTH(4-10) synthetic analogs Semax and Melanotan II on male rats in a model of chronic unpredictable stress. · European journal of pharmacology
Barbie drug identification: Not a child's play. · Journal of forensic sciences
Recommended Tool Compounds for the Melanocortin Receptor (MCR) G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). · ACS pharmacology & translational science
Therapeutic Strategies Against Metabolic Imbalance in a Male Mouse Model With 5-HT2CR Loss-of-Function. · Endocrinology
Multiple metabolic signals in the CeA regulate feeding: The role of AMPK. · Molecular and cellular endocrinology
5-Hydroxypyrroloindoline Affords Tryptathionine and 2,2'-bis-Indole Peptide Staples: Application to Melanotan-II. · Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)

Clinical trials: 1329 studies on ClinicalTrials.gov (view search)

Phase III Confirmatory Study in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP) · COMPLETED
Phase II Solar Urticaria (SU) Pilot Study · COMPLETED
A Study In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus · COMPLETED
Anti-Lag-3 (Relatlimab) and Anti-PD-1 Blockade (Nivolumab) Versus Standard of Care (Lomustine) for the Treatment of Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma · SUSPENDED
S0008: Chemotherapy Plus Biological Therapy in Treating Patients With Melanoma · COMPLETED
Phase II Trial of Abraxane and Capecitabine in Metastatic Colon Cancer (COL 01) · COMPLETED
Safety and Efficacy Study of Botulinum Toxin Type A to Treat Glabellar Lines · COMPLETED
Vemurafenib and Cobimetinib in Treating Patients With BRAF V600E Mutation Positive Craniopharyngioma · ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

ChEMBL: CHEMBL3735690

What brands say it does

Melanotan II activates melanocortin receptors, increasing skin pigmentation and (as a side effect) libido. It is not FDA-approved; injectable products sold online are unregulated with risks of nausea, mole changes, and unknown purity. Scenesse (afamelanotide) is a related approved implant for a rare light-sensitivity disorder.