Systemic HormonesUnregulated/Therapeutic
Bremelanotide
Synonyms: PT-141, Vyleesi, Acetyl-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-OH
Sequence: Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-OH
History & Discovery Timeline
Bremelanotide (PT-141) was discovered as an active metabolite of Melanotan II during clinical testing, then developed by Palatin Technologies as a treatment for female sexual dysfunction.
What it is: It is a cyclic synthetic peptide analog of alpha-MSH, lacking the amide C-terminus of Melanotan II. It falls under Anti-aging/Cosmetic (brand name Vyleesi).
Proposed Mechanisms & Research Findings: It acts as a melanocortin receptor agonist, primarily targeting MC3R and MC4R in the central nervous system to modulate sexual response pathways.
Regulatory & Safety Status: It is FDA approved (2019) for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. Sourcing from unauthorized clinics or websites is unsafe.
Athletic & Anti-Doping Status: Strictly prohibited by WADA under Section S2 as a melanocortin agonist.
Understanding Bremelanotide Key Facts
Primary Target System:CNS
Residue Count / Length:10 Amino Acids
Primary Action & Category:Melanocortin MC3/MC4 Receptor Agonist (Systemic Hormones)
Primary Receptors:Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R)

Figure 1: Detailed molecular mechanism pathways of Bremelanotide (click to enlarge).