Not FDA-Approved — Research Use Only

Melanotan 2

FDA has identified it as an unapproved new drug (Manookian/Melanocorp Electronic Reading Room notice); never completed clinical development or received approval for any indication.

Melanotan 2 is a synthetic, cyclic, non-selective analogue of alpha-MSH that activates multiple melanocortin receptors: MC1R (driving melanogenesis, its intended research use) and MC3R/MC4R (implicate...

PubChem CID92432
FormulaC50H69N15O9
Mol. Weight1024.2 g/mol

Sequence

Mechanism of Action

Melanotan 2 is a synthetic, cyclic, non-selective analogue of alpha-MSH that activates multiple melanocortin receptors: MC1R (driving melanogenesis, its intended research use) and MC3R/MC4R (implicated in off-target appetite and sexual-function effects observed in early pharmacology studies). Its lack of receptor selectivity relative to afamelanotide is understood to be why it was never advanced as an approved drug.

MC1RMC3RMC4R (non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist)

Research Literature