Melanocortin peptides
Arkham Labs editorial/Published 8 September 2026/Revised 12 September 2026/Corrections policy
Analogues acting at melanocortin receptors, for pigmentation, sexual function and rare genetic obesity. Three of the four hold a marketing authorisation, each for a narrow indication named in its guide — and the family is heavily marketed off-label for the things it was not approved for.
Three of these four compounds hold marketing authorisations, which makes this the most approved family in the library and the one where the limits of that grade need stating most plainly.
Each approval is narrow. Afamelanotide is authorised for prevention of phototoxicity in erythropoietic protoporphyria. Bremelanotide is authorised for generalised acquired hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. Setmelanotide is authorised for obesity arising from specific genetic deficiencies, and its registrational trials in POMC and LEPR deficiency were single-arm and open-label with no placebo control. Melanotan II shares the receptor family and holds no authorisation anywhere: it is unlicensed, its sale is illegal in the UK and many other countries, it is non-selective across the melanocortin receptors, and renal infarction is documented in the literature.
- Guides in this family
- 4
- Peer-reviewed sources
- 80
- Grades represented
- Early 1 · Approved 3
- Melanotan I§Approved Pharma
- Melanotan II+Early Clinical
- PT-141§Approved Pharma
- Setmelanotide§Approved Pharma
Approval for one indication is not evidence for another. This family is where that distinction does the most work.
For laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption. Nothing here is medical advice.