Best-effort research profile: this record has not passed full two-source scientific verification. Descriptive fields, research protocols, storage/handling notes, and interaction guidance below are shown with their evidence labels, but calculator presets and exact dosing math remain hidden until the record is verified or reaches Community-Supported status.
Quick Facts
Reference Sizes
5 mg, 10 mg
Storage
Lyophilized: store at -20 deg C. After reconstitution: refrigerate 2-8 deg C; verify beyond-use timing against source COA. NOT FDA-approved - distinct and more serious safety profile than Melanotan I; melanoma risk documented in case reports.
Solubility
Form, salt, and formulation dependent; verify the lot-specific COA
Best-Effort Research Profile
Melanotan II (MT-II) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide alpha-MSH analog with broader receptor activity than Melanotan I, acting on MC1R (pigmentation), MC3R/MC4R (sexual function, appetite), and MC5R. A pilot Phase I clinical study found MT-II produced tanning activity in humans with only 5 low subcutaneous doses given every other day. However, unlike Melanotan I (approved as afamelanotide/Scenesse), Melanotan II is NOT approved or regulated by the FDA for any use, and case reports in the literature document new and changing moles and melanoma following its use - it is also being separately evaluated in early research for skin-cancer chemoprevention, an area of active but unresolved investigation given the same conflicting melanoma signal.
Source review pending. This descriptive profile is shown from the available source material as a best-effort educational reference. It has not passed the full verification bar and is not a dosing instruction, medical claim, or treatment recommendation.
Research Profile
Half-Life
Approximately 30 minutes after subcutaneous administration in the original human pilot study, with little to no measurable plasma activity after about 6 hours. Do not substitute afamelanotide or bremelanotide pharmacokinetics, which differ substantially.
Onset
Tanning effect demonstrated with doses every other day in the pilot Phase I study
Administration Routes (Research)
Subcutaneous (SC)
Reported Research Effects
Tanning activity demonstrated in a Phase I pilot study (5 low SC doses)
Broader receptor activity (MC1R/MC3R/MC4R/MC5R) than Melanotan I - also affects appetite and sexual function pathways
NOT FDA-approved (unlike Melanotan I/afamelanotide) - important regulatory distinction
Case reports of new/changing moles and melanoma associated with use
Reported Research Side Effects
Mild nausea at most tested dose levels
Somnolence and fatigue at 0.03 mg/kg in one participant
Yawning and stretching
Spontaneous penile erections lasting 1-5 hours
Increased pigmentation
Human evidence came from only three male volunteers
Data source: Primary literature, regulator records, trial registries, and identity-specific evidence search
Reflects preclinical/research literature context only. Not a medical claim, dosing instruction, or treatment recommendation.
Route-Specific Research Protocols
Amounts and schedules are separated by administration route. Evidence badges distinguish labels, human studies, preclinical work, community reports, and evidence gaps.
Label / guidelineHuman studyCommunity onlyPreclinical onlyNot established
Subcutaneous (SC)Human study only
Starting cohort: 0.01 mg/kg SC on alternating active and saline weekdays for 2 weeks; two participants escalated in 0.005 mg/kg steps to 0.03 mg/kg and one to 0.025 mg/kg
Frequency / timing
Weekdays over 2 weeks
Duration / setting
Pilot phase-I alternating-day study
Technique
SC
Evidence
Human study protocol
Context: PMID 8637402
Formulation: Route-specific sterile formulation and professional handling requirements apply; concentration cannot be inferred from an oral or topical product.
Route safety: Research-study protocol only; it is not an approved or individualized instruction and should not be extrapolated to another route.
Future-study dose proposed by the investigators: 0.025 mg/kg as a single SC dose
Frequency / timing
Single dose
Duration / setting
Phase-I recommendation, not an approved regimen
Technique
SC
Evidence
Human study protocol
Context: PMID 8637402
Formulation: Route-specific sterile formulation and professional handling requirements apply; concentration cannot be inferred from an oral or topical product.
Route safety: Research-study protocol only; it is not an approved or individualized instruction and should not be extrapolated to another route.
Do not convert an amount between routes. Bioavailability, formulation, sterility, monitoring, and clinical context differ by route. Research-use context only; independently verify every cited source.
Research Notes
Melanotan II is not afamelanotide or bremelanotide. The catalog now records the actual three-person phase-I escalation rather than a generic tanning schedule. It is unapproved, and the tiny study cannot establish routine safety or efficacy.
Supplementary research context only. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation.
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Related Research Articles
Published articles on this site that mention Melanotan II or one of its catalog aliases.
Research Use Only. All content is for educational and research reference only. Not medical advice, a treatment recommendation, or guidance on human use. Compounds are not FDA-approved drugs unless specifically noted.