Class
The melanocortin peptides act on a receptor family that governs pigmentation, appetite, inflammation, and sexual function at once. That breadth is why a compound developed for one of those effects reliably produces another, and it is the origin of this class's whole commercial history.
Two molecules, one derived from the other, occupy opposite ends of United States regulation. One completed a development program and holds an approval with a narrowly written indication. The other left the bulks list when its nomination was withdrawn, with FDA's safety finding still published beside its name.
Molecules in this class
| Molecule | Class | US status | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melanotan IIMelanotan-2; MT-II | Melanocortins | No lawful route | Nomination withdrawn in 2026; on no list. FDA's published safety finding — melanoma, priapism, and two acute toxicity syndromes in case reports — was never retracted. |
| PT-141Bremelanotide; Vyleesi | Melanocortins | FDA-approved | Approved June 2019 as Vyleesi for one narrowly defined indication in premenopausal women; the label states it is not indicated for men. |
Melanotan-2; MT-II
Nomination withdrawn in 2026; on no list. FDA's published safety finding — melanoma, priapism, and two acute toxicity syndromes in case reports — was never retracted.
Bremelanotide; Vyleesi
Approved June 2019 as Vyleesi for one narrowly defined indication in premenopausal women; the label states it is not indicated for men.
The approved member's record is at PT-141 and the unlisted one at Melanotan II; the approved peptide drugs table places the first among the approved set, and what removal does not mean covers the position of the second.
Reference tables
Definitions