Informational only. Not medical advice.INFORMATIONAL PLATFORM ONLY — NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT
Informational only. Not medical advice.INFORMATIONAL PLATFORM ONLY — NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT
Head-to-head comparison of Melanotan I and PT-141 — mechanism, side effects, legal status, and pricing.
Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) is a synthetic analog of alpha-MSH that selectively activates MC1R. FDA-approved as Scenesse for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), it is distinct from Melanotan II and is studied for melanogenesis and photoprotection.
PT-141 (bremelanotide) is a cyclic heptapeptide melanocortin receptor agonist derived from melanotan II. It is FDA-approved as Vyleesi (2019) for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women only. It acts centrally through the melanocortin system rather than on peripheral vasculature.
Melanotan I
PT-141
Category
Legal Status
Mechanism
Half-life
Side Effects
COA-verified vendors · trust score ≥70 required · single-vial price — bulk/bundle deals may be lower
Melanotan I
PT-141
COA corpus from Disclosed Labs — independently tested batches only.
Melanotan I
50
COAs
99.7%
Avg purity
12
Labs
PT-141
83
COAs
99.7%
Avg purity
14
Labs
FDA-approved as Scenesse (Clinuvel, October 8, 2019) for increasing pain-free light exposure in adults with EPP, based on Phase III trials CUV039 and CUV040 showing more hours spent in sunlight without pain vs. placebo (Langendonk et al., NEJM, 2015; PMID 26132941). A randomized multicenter trial (Lim et al., JAMA Dermatology, 2015; PMID 25230094) also showed increased repigmentation when afamelanotide was combined with narrow-band UVB in vitiligo.
Bremelanotide received FDA approval in June 2019 (NDA 210557) based on the two Phase III RECONNECT trials reported by Kingsberg, Simon, Clayton, Portman et al. in Obstet Gynecol 2019 (PMID 31599840). Pooled 24-week data showed statistically significant increases in the Female Sexual Function Index desire domain and decreases in the Female Sexual Distress Scale compared with placebo, with long-term 52-week open-label safety reported in the companion paper (PMID 31599847). Earlier clinical programs in men with erectile dysfunction — including intranasal bremelanotide and the subcutaneous sildenafil-salvage study by Safarinejad & Hosseini (J Urol 2008, PMID 18206919) — showed modest efficacy but did not lead to approval in men. Safety monitoring shows transient SBP elevation (~6 mmHg) with reflex bradycardia resolving within ~12 hours; nausea (~40%) is the most common adverse event and typically diminishes with subsequent doses. Focal hyperpigmentation has been reported with repeated use, consistent with MC1R activity.
Melanotan I (Cosmetic) and PT-141 (Hormone) are in different categories and target different biological pathways. This is a common pattern in multi-compound research protocols. Researchers should monitor the biomarkers from both profiles and watch for interactions listed in each compound’s contraindications. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before combining any research compounds.
This platform provides informational tools only, not medical advice. This comparison is for educational purposes only. Consult a licensed provider.
Contraindications
Lab Testing
Disclosed Labs