Description
Melanotan 2 (MT-II) at a glance
Melanotan 2 — also written Melanotan II or MT-II — is a synthetic cyclic seven-residue analogue of alpha-MSH, closed by a lactam bridge (Dorr et al., 1996). It was tested in a tiny pigmentation pilot and small erectile-response studies in men; its unregulated use as a “tanning peptide” has since produced dermatology case reports of mole changes and melanoma, summarised below. Ellepeptides lists one 10 mg vial in the Tanning & Libido research category.
- Molecule type: cyclic heptapeptide (lactam bridge); alpha-MSH analogue
- Vial size: 10 mg (single size)
- Listed price: from $55.00 USD
- Form: freeze-dried (lyophilized) powder
- Ships within the US; free shipping on merchandise subtotals over $200
- For laboratory research only — not a tanning, sunscreen or sexual-health product
Melanotan 2 vial sizes and price per mg
| Vial size | Listed price (USD) | Price per mg |
|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | $55.00 | $5.50 |
This is the USD list price at the time of writing. Check the size selector and Add to cart area for today’s figure; multi-vial or bundle pricing is not promised, and coupon savings, if any, are calculated in the cart.
Melanotan 2 compound profile
| Catalog compound | Melanotan II (MT-II, Melanotan 2) |
|---|---|
| Amount per vial | 10 mg |
| Reference class | Cyclic heptapeptide; alpha-MSH analogue |
| Reference ring | Lactam bridge |
| Molecular reference form | Parent cyclic peptide; counterion excluded |
| Reference CAS number | 121062-08-6 |
| Reference molecular formula | C50H69N15O9 |
| Reference molar mass | 1024.2 g/mol |
The identifiers match the PubChem record for Melanotan II (CID 92432). They define which molecule is meant; they say nothing about the counterion, water content or analytical makeup of a given lot.
How Melanotan 2 works in research
Melanotan 2 imitates alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, the natural ligand of the melanocortin receptor family. Hadley and Dorr describe two engineered analogues from the same program: a linear peptide, Melanotan I, and a cyclic, truncated peptide, Melanotan II, both designed to be more potent, longer acting and more resistant to enzymes than the native hormone (Hadley & Dorr, 2006). The MeSH summary indexed by PubChem describes MT-II as capable of stimulating melanin synthesis and promoting rapid tanning of skin (PubChem).
Melanocortin receptors are not confined to pigment cells, as early human data show. The 1996 pilot recorded nausea and somnolence or fatigue alongside pigmentation (Dorr et al.), and a 1998 crossover in men recorded erectile responses together with nausea, yawning and appetite changes (Wessells et al.). That spread of effects — skin, sexual function, appetite, gut — is what made MT-II a starting point for PT-141, which Hadley and Dorr describe as a newer MT-II analogue. It is also why MT-II is treated as a broad research tool rather than a skin-specific one.
Key Melanotan 2 studies
| Year | Study & model | What was measured | Main finding | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Dorr et al.; phase 1 pilot in 3 men | Skin pigmentation; tolerability | 2 of 3 showed increased pigmentation; nausea, somnolence or fatigue | PubMed |
| 1998 | Wessells et al.; placebo-controlled crossover, 10 men with erectile dysfunction | Erectile response | Responses in 8 of 10; nausea, yawning, appetite changes | PubMed |
| 2006 | Hadley & Dorr; review | History of melanocortin analogues | MT-I linear, MT-II cyclic; PT-141 developed from MT-II | PubMed |
| 2012 | Hueso-Gabriel et al.; case report and literature summary | Naevi after MT-II | Over 100 new naevi in a 25-year-old man; all 10 excised lesions dysplastic | Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas |
| 2014 | Hjuler & Lorentzen; case report | Melanoma | Melanoma in a 20-year-old woman after MT-II plus sunbed use | PubMed |
| 2017 | Habbema et al.; dermatology review | Risks of unregulated alpha-MSH analogues | Mole changes, new dysplastic naevi, four melanoma reports; causality not established | EUR repository |
| 2021 | Gilhooley et al.; 623 forum posts by 205 users (UK, Ireland) | User practices and risks | Sunbed co-use, misinformation, contamination and infection concerns | Dermatology |
With only 13 men in controlled studies, the documented safety concerns come mainly from dermatology. In the 2012 report, a 25-year-old sunbed user developed more than 100 new naevi weeks after a four-week course; all ten atypical lesions removed were dysplastic, three severely. The authors list earlier cases of eruptive or changing naevi and melanoma with shared risk factors: fair phototypes, many moles, previous melanoma, sunbeds and sun exposure (Hueso-Gabriel et al.).
Habbema and colleagues’ 2017 review pulls this together: case reports link unregulated melanotan use to changes in existing moles and new dysplastic naevi, and four describe melanomas arising from moles during or shortly after use. Causality is not conclusively established, but the preparation of unregulated products is uncertain and several national health organizations have issued warnings (Habbema et al.).
Melanotan 2 research involving women
No controlled trial of Melanotan 2 in women was identified in the sources reviewed; women appear almost entirely in case reports. Hjuler and Lorentzen described melanoma in a 20-year-old woman who had used MT-II with sunbeds — a single case cannot separate the peptide’s role from ultraviolet exposure (Hjuler & Lorentzen, 2014).
The 2012 case summary also cites earlier reports involving women: naevus changes in two women (one with a severely dysplastic naevus), eruptive naevi in a 19-year-old woman who used a tanning bed, and a thin melanoma in a transformed abdominal naevus in a 42-year-old woman (Hueso-Gabriel et al.). The 2021 forum study of UK and Irish users did not report participants’ sex (Gilhooley et al.).
The closest controlled women’s evidence in this family concerns a different molecule: PT-141 (bremelanotide), tested in large placebo-controlled trials in premenopausal women. Those results do not transfer to MT-II.
Melanotan 2 vs PT-141 and GHK-Cu
| Compound | Type | Main research focus | Sizes on Ellepeptides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melanotan II (Melanotan 2) | Cyclic heptapeptide; alpha-MSH analogue | Pigmentation, small male studies, dermatology case reports | 10 mg |
| PT-141 (bremelanotide) | Cyclic heptapeptide; MT-II analogue | Desire and distress in premenopausal women with HSDD | 10 mg |
| GHK-Cu Copper Peptide | Copper(II) complex of a glycine–histidine–lysine tripeptide | Collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures (Maquart 1988) and skin-formulation studies | 50 mg, 100 mg |
Melanotan 2 vs PT-141 is the most searched comparison: they share a lineage, but PT-141 has a large women’s trial record and MT-II does not. GHK-Cu is chemically unrelated but also appears in skin research. Melanotan 1 is separate: afamelanotide, a linear 13-residue [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH peptide (EMA, 2014), received US FDA approval in 2019 as an implant for adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria after trials of 93 and 74 patients (FDA, 2019). Ellepeptides does not sell it.
Melanotan 2 handling, storage and reconstitution math
Treat the vial label as the authority on storage. With freeze-dried peptides, laboratories generally keep vials closed, dry and shielded from light, avoiding repeated warming and cooling. Once a solvent is added, the concentration is the vial’s mass divided by the volume used — purely as arithmetic, 10 mg in 4 mL works out to 2.5 mg/mL, or 2,500 µg/mL. Our peptide calculator does the unit conversions, and Bacteriostatic Water 30 mL is sold separately where a protocol calls for it.
Ordering Melanotan 2 in the US
Melanotan II ships to addresses within the United States. When the merchandise subtotal exceeds $200 after coupon discounts (before taxes and shipping), shipping is free; otherwise standard shipping is $15.99 per order. Delivery options and the available payment methods are shown at checkout, so please check the shipping policy for current details. Questions can go to [email protected].
Melanotan 2 FAQ
What is Melanotan 2?
Melanotan 2 (Melanotan II, MT-II) is a synthetic cyclic seven-residue analogue of alpha-MSH. It was developed alongside the linear Melanotan I and tested in small studies of skin pigmentation and erectile response in men. Ellepeptides supplies it as a 10 mg freeze-dried vial for laboratory research only.
How much is Melanotan 2 in the US?
The 10 mg vial is listed at $55.00 USD at the time of writing, roughly $5.50 per mg. The live price beside Add to cart takes precedence. Shipping is free when the merchandise subtotal exceeds $200 after coupon discounts, before taxes and shipping.
Where can I buy Melanotan 2 in the US?
Ellepeptides lists Melanotan II as a 10 mg research vial that ships to US addresses, with the available payment methods shown at checkout. It is sold only as laboratory material, not for tanning or personal use. Delivery options are on the shipping policy page.
What side effects of Melanotan 2 have been reported?
The small early studies recorded nausea, somnolence or fatigue, yawning and appetite changes. Dermatology case reports describe new or changing moles, dysplastic naevi and melanomas in users, often alongside sunbed exposure. These reports cannot establish how often such effects occur or prove cause.
Can Melanotan 2 cause moles or melanoma?
Case reports link unregulated use to changes in existing moles, new dysplastic naevi and four melanomas arising from moles, according to a 2017 dermatology review. The authors say a causal link is not conclusively established, partly because many cases also involved sunbeds, fair skin or many moles.
What is the difference between Melanotan 1 and Melanotan 2?
Melanotan I is a linear analogue of alpha-MSH, later developed as afamelanotide for erythropoietic protoporphyria. Melanotan II is a shorter cyclic analogue with a lactam bridge that showed broader effects, including nausea and erectile responses, in early studies. They are different molecules; Ellepeptides lists only Melanotan II.
Does Melanotan 2 pigmentation protect against the sun?
No. Increased pigmentation in a study is not a validated sun-protection or skin-cancer-prevention endpoint. Dermatology authors have in fact raised concern about users combining melanotans with sunbeds, a known melanoma risk factor in the case reports. The vial is not a sunscreen or cosmetic product.
Are there Melanotan 2 before-and-after studies?
The controlled pigmentation data in the sources reviewed come from a 1996 pilot in three men, where two showed increased pigmentation. There are no controlled before-and-after trials in women in that literature, and online photographs, which lack controls and standard lighting, are not research evidence.
Is there a Melanotan 2 nasal spray?
Ellepeptides sells Melanotan II only as lyophilized powder in a 10 mg vial — no nasal sprays, drops or creams. Dermatology reviewers note that the preparation and contents of unregulated products sold for tanning are uncertain, which is one reason they urge caution.
How should a Melanotan 2 vial be stored?
Use the storage conditions printed on the vial label, which override general guidance. Lyophilized peptides are generally kept closed, dry and away from light and heat, and a prepared solution needs stability limits from your own validated method. The peptide calculator handles concentration arithmetic.
Melanotan 2 references
- Dorr RT et al. (1996). Phase 1 pilot study. PubMed 8637402
- Wessells H et al. (1998). Crossover study in men. PubMed 9679884
- Hadley ME, Dorr RT (2006). Melanocortin peptide therapeutics review. Peptides. PubMed 16412534
- Hueso-Gabriel L et al. (2012). Eruptive dysplastic naevi after Melanotan. Journal page
- Hjuler KF, Lorentzen HF (2014). Melanoma case report. PubMed 24355990
- Habbema L et al. (2017). Risks of unregulated alpha-MSH analogues. Int J Dermatol. EUR repository
- Gilhooley E et al. (2021). Melanotan II user forums study. Karger
- US Food and Drug Administration (2019). Afamelanotide announcement (republished). BioSpace
- European Medicines Agency (2014). Scenesse (afamelanotide) assessment report. EMA EPAR
- Maquart FX et al. (1988). GHK-Cu and collagen synthesis in fibroblasts. PubMed 3169264
- PubChem. Melanotan II (CID 92432). pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Related research materials: Tanning & Libido peptides, all research peptides, PT-141, Kisspeptin-10, GHK-Cu and our research standards page. For laboratory research only. Not for human or veterinary use.
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