Melanotan II is a cyclic heptapeptide analogue of α-MSH. Its lactam ring, D-phenylalanine and terminal modifications are identity-defining.
Evidence at a glance
- PubChem lists formula C50H69N15O9, molecular weight 1024.2 g/mol and CID 92432.
- The condensed sequence is Ac-Nle-Asp(1)-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys(1)-NH2, with a side-chain lactam bridge.
- Regulator testing of online products found large between-bottle content differences, so appearance and label strength are not identity evidence.
Identity record
A linear peptide with the same residue list is not Melanotan II. Ring closure changes mass, conformation and chromatographic behavior; stereochemistry at D-Phe also needs to match the reference.
Analytical and evidence boundary
Peptide-related impurities and aggregation can create immunogenicity concerns for some routes. FDA’s compounding safety page explicitly identifies these concerns for Melanotan II.
Do not use “tanning peptide” as if it were an approved indication. The FDA record describes Melanotan II as an unapproved new drug, and research-use copy should not provide consumer administration guidance.
Editorial rule
State the exact material, form, model or population and endpoint supported by the cited record. Do not convert mechanistic plausibility, an animal result, an official finished-drug label or an analytical test into a claim about an unrelated catalog lot.
Sources & editorial method
This article discusses the source records listed below, with the study models and limitations stated alongside the findings. AI-assisted drafting and image generation were used. The reference list identifies the records behind this article; it is not an independent peer review or verification of a supplied catalog lot.
5 linked records are listed in the references below. Read the editorial and AI-assistance policy.
How to interpret this article
Source-checked on 2026-09-02. Null results, sample size, model/population limits and regulatory scope are retained. This is not medical advice, a customer case or validation of a catalog lot.
Research-use boundary: Catalog materials discussed on this website are for laboratory research, development and manufacturing use only, not for human or veterinary use. This content is not medical advice and does not provide administration instructions.
Primary records and authoritative sources
- Melanotan II pilot phase I studyThree-person single-blind pilot; PMID 8637402.
- Melanotan II systemic toxicity with rhabdomyolysisCase report. 2012. PMID 23121206.
- TGA finds inconsistent Melanotan II contentOfficial August 2026 laboratory-testing safety alert.
- FDA Melanotan II enforcement recordOfficial record describing Melanotan II as an unapproved new drug.
- PubChem Melanotan II recordCyclic sequence, formula and molecular weight; CID 92432.
Continue with structured records
Move from this editorial analysis to the product identity, filtered evidence and controlled terminology behind it.
