Novera Melanotan II 10mg

Melanotan II (MT-II) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analogue of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) that serves as a non-selective agonist across multiple melanocortin receptor subtypes, making it one of the most broadly studied melanotropic peptides in pigmentation science, neurosexual function, metabolic regulation, and neuroprotection research. Originally developed in the 1980s by researchers at the University of Arizona, this superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide has become a cornerstone compound for investigators exploring the melanocortin system and its downstream physiological actions.

Melanotan II is available for research purposes only and is not approved for human use. At FillerSupplies.com, it is supplied as a high purity lyophilized powder intended exclusively for licensed researchers and laboratory professionals conducting in vitro or preclinical animal model studies. If you need to buy Melanotan II online from a trusted source, this product meets the rigorous standards required for meaningful scientific evaluation.

General Information About Melanotan II

Melanotan II is a cyclic heptapeptide – a synthetic peptide built from 7 amino acids – with the precise sequence Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH₂. Its chemical formula is C₅₀H₆₉N₁₅O₉, and it carries a molecular weight of 1024.2 g/mol. The CAS number for Melanotan II is 121062-08-6. The compound features an acetylated N-terminus, a lactam-bridged cyclic core containing the critical Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys pharmacophore, and a C-terminal amide – structural modifications that confer substantially greater protease resistance compared to the linear, endogenous α-MSH molecule.

As a synthetic analogue of α-MSH, Melanotan II is classified as a synthetic melanocortin receptor agonist. Its mechanism of action involves binding with high affinity to several melanocortin receptor subtypes: MC1R (involved in skin pigmentation and melanin production), MC3R and MC4R (central nervous system receptors implicated in appetite, energy balance, and sexual functions), and MC5R (exocrine gland regulation). MC2R, the adrenocorticotropic hormone receptor, appears to be minimally activated. This broad receptor profile is what distinguishes MT-II as a non-selective agonist and makes it a versatile tool across multiple lines of research.

Pharmacokinetic data from animal studies provide the most consistent picture of MT-II disposition. In rats administered 0.3 mg/kg intravenously, researchers observed a biphasic plasma decline with a beta-phase half-life of approximately 30–60 minutes. Human pharmacokinetic parameters – including Cmax, AUC, and plasma clearance – have not been formally published in peer-reviewed literature, which remains a notable gap in the field. The cyclic structure with norleucine substitution and amide terminus gives MT-II markedly longer functional persistence than natural α-MSH, which degrades rapidly in circulation.

Melanotan II Use in the Research Setting

Melanotan II is supplied as a lyophilized powder for reconstitution in laboratory and preclinical studies; it is designated strictly for research and laboratory use only.

#1. Melanogenesis and Pigmentation Research

Melanotan II is used in melanogenesis research to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying skin pigmentation. When MT-II binds MC1R on melanocytes, it triggers the adenylyl cyclase→cAMP signaling pathway, activating tyrosinase and downstream enzymes that shift pigment synthesis toward eumelanin – the dark, photoprotective pigment – rather than pheomelanin. Melanotan II increases eumelanin production in skin cells, a finding that has driven substantial interest in photoprotection studies examining how enhanced eumelanin content improves UV-absorption profiles in tissue samples.

Receptor binding affinity data underscore the potency of MT-II at MC1R. Reported Ki values place MC1R binding in the sub-nanomolar range (approximately 0.16 nM), while MC4R affinity is estimated at roughly 1.8 nM, though exact values vary by assay system and species. In the landmark 1996 Phase I pilot trial by Dorr et al., three male volunteers received subcutaneous MT-II at escalating doses from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.03 mg/kg over a two-week period. Measurable increases in pigmentation on the face, upper body, and other regions were documented by reflectance spectrometry after approximately five doses. This study provided the first direct human evidence that melanocortin regulates sexual functions and pigmentation simultaneously in male and female humans exposed to melanocortin agonists, although this particular trial involved only male subjects.

Compared to natural tanning processes – which require UV-mediated DNA damage to trigger melanocyte stimulating hormone release – MT-II bypasses the UV requirement by directly activating MC1R, offering researchers a model system for studying melanogenesis independent of radiation exposure.

#2. Neurosexual Function and MC4R Pathway Studies

The discovery that MT-II influences sexual arousal through central melanocortin pathways emerged unexpectedly from the same pigmentation trials. Melanotan II enhances sexual arousal in over 80% of cases based on early human observations: over 80% of subjects showed increased arousal signaling with Melanotan II. In the Dorr et al. pilot trial, spontaneous penile erection was reported in male subjects, with episodes lasting 1–5 hours following subcutaneous dosing at 0.01–0.03 mg/kg. These effects are mediated primarily through MC4R activation in the brain and spinal cord regions involved in erectile function and sexual motivation.

“In 3 normal male volunteers … spontaneous penile erections which were intermittently experienced for 1–5 hours after MT-II dosing… increased pigmentation … two subjects had increased pigmentation …” – Dorr et al., Life Sciences, 1996

This pro-erectile effect motivated the development of more selective derivatives. PT-141 (bremelanotide) was engineered to retain MC4R activation for sexual function while minimizing MC1R-mediated pigmentation side effects. PT-141 received FDA approval in 2019 as Vyleesi for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal female humans, precisely because of its cleaner receptor selectivity profile. MT-II, by contrast, remains a research compound due to its broad receptor activation and associated side-effect burden.

Dose-response relationships in preclinical studies show that behavioral effects in rodent models – including increased mating behavior and sexual motivation – follow a consistent pattern with systemic subcutaneous administration, while central intracerebroventricular delivery at microgram-per-kilogram doses is sufficient to trigger hypothalamic-pituitary axis-mediated responses involved in arousal and erectile function research.

#3. Metabolic and Energy Balance Research

The role of melanocortin receptors in energy balance and food intake regulation is well established, and MT-II has served as a key pharmacological tool for dissecting these mechanisms. Melanotan II activates multiple melanocortin receptors in research, and its agonism at MC3R and MC4R in the hypothalamus suppresses appetite and reduces food intake in animal models. Melanotan II reduces food intake and body weight in mice, with central administration shown to attenuate neuropeptide Y (NPY)-induced feeding in rats. Some models also demonstrate increased thermogenesis as an additional mechanism of action.

“In rats given MT-II 0.3 mg/kg IV, biphasic plasma decline was observed … biphasic disposition profile … t½ (beta-phase) approximately 30–60 minutes.” – Ugwu et al., Biopharmaceutics & Drug Disposition, 1994

Effective central doses in rodent metabolic studies are typically in the low microgram-per-kilogram range (intracerebroventricular), whereas peripheral subcutaneous or intravenous doses for systemic effects range from 0.1 to 1 mg/kg depending on species and target endpoint. Researchers investigating potential oral delivery have explored novel formulations achieving bioavailability of approximately 25% compared to subcutaneous routes in rat models, which may inform future non-injectable research protocols.

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#4. Neuroprotective and Anti-inflammatory Research

Emerging preclinical evidence suggests that Melanotan II shows neuroprotective properties in murine models, extending its research utility well beyond pigmentation and sexual function. In a maternal immune activation (MIA) mouse model of autism spectrum disorder, intracerebroventricular infusion of MT-II improved social behavior deficits over treatment periods of 7–14 days. Functional improvements in these models are thought to be mediated by MC4R activation in the brain, which modulates inflammatory signaling cascades and oxidative stress pathways.

Melanotan II enhances sensory function recovery after nerve injury, and its potential role in peripheral nerve regeneration has attracted attention from researchers studying tissue repair mechanisms. Melanotan II promotes nerve regeneration in animal models, with MC4R-mediated signaling shown to support axonal regrowth and functional recovery following experimental peripheral nerve lesions. Anti-atherosclerotic properties have also been explored in laboratory models, although direct evidence for MT-II in this target area remains more limited than for the closely related endogenous α-MSH peptide.

Compared to other neuroprotective peptides in research, MT-II’s cyclic structure offers greater protease resistance and longer functional persistence than linear α-MSH. More selective MC4R agonists such as Setmelanotide are being explored for obesity and energy regulation with fewer pigmentation effects, but MT-II’s broad receptor engagement makes it uniquely suited for studies examining the interplay between melanocortin receptor subtypes in neuroprotection and tissue recovery.

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Buy Melanotan II Online at FillerSupplies.com

When you need to buy Melanotan II for your research program, FillerSupplies.com provides a dependable supply chain built specifically for licensed professionals. The Novera-brand Melanotan II available here is supplied as a lyophilized powder suitable for reconstitution in preclinical and in vitro protocols, backed by over a decade of experience serving the research community. Whether you are investigating melanocortin receptor mechanisms, melanogenesis pathways, or metabolic regulation, you can order with confidence from a supplier that understands the requirements of rigorous scientific work.

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All Melanotan II products at FillerSupplies.com are supplied for research and laboratory use only. To place your first order or contact our team for bulk pricing, visit our website or reach out directly – where to buy Melanotan II has never been more straightforward for qualified researchers.

Related research peptides available at FillerSupplies.com: Melanotan I.