Cyclic α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogue

Melanotan II in Canada

Also known as Melanotan 2 · MT-2 · MT-II · Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2

Melanotan II is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analogue of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, developed at the University of Arizona in the 1980s as a more potent and longer-acting way to stimulate skin pigment without ultraviolet light. Small human studies in the 1990s confirmed that it darkens skin and, unexpectedly, that it produces erections — the observation that led to PT-141. It is not approved anywhere, Health Canada has warned against unauthorised injectable tanning products, and its safety record includes nausea, flushing, darkening of moles and case reports of melanoma. Canada Peptides carries research-grade Melanotan II as a lyophilised vial, priced and shipped in CAD for laboratory and research use only.

Quick facts

Class: Synthetic cyclic heptapeptide, non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist
Structure: 7 amino acids, lactam-cyclised · Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH2 · ~1,024 Da
Half-life: On the order of an hour in early human PK; pigmentation and other effects persist far longer
Route in research: Subcutaneous in the University of Arizona human studies; subcutaneous and intraperitoneal in animal work
Cadence in research: Daily or alternate-day injections over one to two weeks in the human pigmentation studies
Storage: Lyophilised: refrigerated, dark. Reconstituted: refrigerated, used within weeks

Melanotan II FAQ

Is Melanotan II for sale in Canada?

Yes. Research-grade Melanotan II is available in Canada from Canada Peptides as a lyophilised vial, priced and shipped in CAD. It is supplied strictly for laboratory and research use, not for human consumption. Health Canada has warned against unauthorised melanotan products sold for tanning, and nothing here is sold for that purpose.

What is Melanotan II?

Melanotan II is a synthetic cyclic seven-amino-acid analogue of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, developed at the University of Arizona in the 1980s to stimulate skin pigment without ultraviolet light. It activates all the melanocortin receptors, which is why it also affects appetite and sexual function, and it was never developed to approval.

What does the research on Melanotan II actually show?

Small 1990s human studies showed measurable skin darkening within days of subcutaneous injection and, in a placebo-controlled crossover study, erections in men with erectile dysfunction. Side effects were prominent in those trials, development stopped, and the modern literature consists of case reports of nevi changes, melanoma and toxicity from unregulated use.

What is the half-life of Melanotan II?

Early human pharmacokinetics reported a plasma half-life on the order of an hour after subcutaneous injection, much longer than native α-MSH because of its cyclic structure and D-amino acid. Pigmentation persists for weeks because it reflects melanin already deposited in the skin, not circulating peptide.

How was Melanotan II dosed in studies?

The 1996 pilot study used subcutaneous doses escalating through roughly 0.01 to 0.03 mg/kg, five days a week for two weeks; the 1998 erectile-dysfunction study used a single 0.025 mg/kg dose. There is no validated human dose, and this page does not recommend one; the material sold here is for research use only.

What side effects does Melanotan II research report?

Nausea, facial flushing, yawning, fatigue, reduced appetite and prolonged erections in the original trials; darkening of existing moles, eruptive new moles and case reports of melanoma, rhabdomyolysis and encephalopathy in the case literature. There is no long-term safety data. The FDA declined to permit it in compounded medicines in 2023.

Is Melanotan II legal in Canada?

Melanotan II is not a controlled substance in Canada, but it has no Health Canada approval for human use and no DIN, and Health Canada has issued advisories against unauthorised melanotan tanning products. It may be sold for laboratory research, which is how it is sold here. It is not on the WADA Prohibited List.

Melanotan II vs PT-141 — what is the difference?

PT-141, bremelanotide, is the deamidated metabolite of Melanotan II, identical except for a free carboxylic acid at the C-terminus. It is biased toward the MC4R effects on sexual function and is approved in the United States as Vyleesi, whereas Melanotan II activates all melanocortin receptors, including the MC1R pigmentation pathway, and is approved nowhere.

Melanotan II in Canada

Quick facts

Melanotan II — for sale in Canada

What is Melanotan II?

Evidence at a glance

Pharmacology

Identity and chemistry

Storage and stability

Research indications

Research protocols

Interactions and stacking in research

Reconstitution and handling

Side effects and safety signals

Regulatory status in Canada

Further reading

Melanotan II FAQ

Research references