Melanocortin peptide therapeutics: historical milestones, clinical studies and commercialization.
Hadley. Mac E ME; Dorr. Robert T RT
Key Findings
- Melanotan‑I can produce a tan without sun, potentially reducing UV‑related skin damage
- Melanotan‑II (PT‑141) improves sexual function in males and females in early trials
- Both peptides are engineered to be long‑acting and resistant to breakdown, but are still experimental and not commercially available
Practical Outcomes
- If you’re interested in a UV‑free tan, Melanotan‑I shows proof‑of‑concept but lacks dosing guidelines and regulatory approval, so use caution. PT‑141 may be a future alternative to Viagra, but it’s still in clinical development. For now, the main takeaway is that these peptides have promising effects but are not ready for safe, DIY protocols.
Summary
Melanotan‑I is a synthetic peptide that can give a deep tan without UV exposure, which might lower skin‑cancer risk. Melanotan‑II (also called PT‑141) was originally studied for erectile dysfunction and now shows promise for improving sexual function in both men and women. Both peptides have been tested in early‑phase human trials, but they are not yet approved for general use.
Abstract
The melanocortins (MCs) are a family of multifunctional peptidergic hormones. Several superpotent, prolonged acting, enzymatically resistant, MC analogs have been designed and synthesized to help clarify the nature and role of MCs and their receptors (MCRs) in physiological functions. Two of these analogs, a linear peptide, melanotan I, and a cyclic truncated peptide, melanotan II (MTI and MTII, respectively) have been patented and tested clinically for studies on tanning of the skin (MTI) and for diagnosis and treatment of male erectile dysfunction (MTII). A new MTII analog, PT-141 (Palatin Technologies) has initial phase I/II trials and is scheduled to enter pivotal stage III clinical trials leading to commercialization. MTI may provide a therapeutic tan with the potential to lower the risk of skin cancer. PT-141 may improve sexual functionality in both males and females.
Study Information
pubmed
2006
2006-01-18T00:00:00.000Z
10.1016/j.peptides.2005.01.029
92
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