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.
Three of the molecules here completed development programs and hold approvals, and every one of those labels names a population rather than a use: a rare photodermatosis, one form of low sexual desire in premenopausal women, and a set of rare genetic and acquired obesities. The fourth, the one with the widest gray market, left the bulks list when its nomination was withdrawn, with FDA's safety finding still published beside its name.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| Melanotan IIMelanotan-2; MT-II | Melanocortins | No lawful route | Nomination withdrawn in 2026; on no list.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. Verified August 2026. |
| SetmelanotideRM-493; Imcivree | Melanocortins | FDA-approved | Approved November 2020 as Imcivree for rare genetic and acquired hypothalamic obesity; the label states it is not indicated for general obesity. |
| 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. Verified August 2026. |
| AfamelanotideMelanotan-I; Scenesse; CUV1647 | Melanocortins | FDA-approved | Approved October 2019 as Scenesse for one rare photodermatosis; the pre-approval literature calls the same compound melanotan-I. |
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Nomination withdrawn in 2026; on no list.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. Verified August 2026.
RM-493; Imcivree
Approved November 2020 as Imcivree for rare genetic and acquired hypothalamic obesity; the label states it is not indicated for general obesity.
Bremelanotide; Vyleesi
Approved June 2019 as Vyleesi for one narrowly defined indication in premenopausal women; the label states it is not indicated for men. Verified August 2026.
Melanotan-I; Scenesse; CUV1647
Approved October 2019 as Scenesse for one rare photodermatosis; the pre-approval literature calls the same compound melanotan-I.
The approved records are at afamelanotide, PT-141 and setmelanotide, and the unlisted one at Melanotan II; the approved peptide drugs table places the first three among the approved set, and what removal does not mean covers the position of the fourth.
The 2026 WADA Prohibited List names no member of this class. It does not name Melanotan II, and that is not the same as permitted: the relevant sections are expressly non-exhaustive, and section S0 covers any substance with no current approval for human therapeutic use.
The vote ledger and the WADA table carry the sources.
Evidence reviews
Reference tables
Definitions