PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
Also referred to as: Bremelanotide, Vyleesi
A peptide that acts on the brain's melanocortin system, studied for sexual desire and approved as a medicine for one specific use.
In plain terms: PT-141 acts on a system in the brain involved in sexual desire — working through the brain rather than blood flow. Unusually for the peptides here, it is actually FDA-approved as a medicine for one specific condition, though most discussion of it is for other, unapproved uses.
- Name
- PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
- Aliases
- Bremelanotide, Vyleesi
- Classification
- Melanocortin receptor agonist (peptide)
- Areas studied
- Sexual function, Melanocortin system, Brain signaling
What it is
PT-141 (also called bremelanotide) is a lab-made peptide developed from melanotan research. It acts on the brain's melanocortin system, which is involved in sexual desire — a different route than blood-flow drugs like Viagra.
It is FDA-approved (as Vyleesi) for one specific condition in premenopausal women. Other uses are not approved.
Mechanism
PT-141 plugs into melanocortin docking points in the brain (mainly MC4R), which are part of the pathways involved in sexual desire and arousal. Because it works in the brain, its route is different from drugs that act on blood flow.
This has been studied in animals and in human clinical trials.
Areas studied & investigated
The categories below summarize where PT-141 (Bremelanotide) appears in the research literature. They describe what the compound is studied for and investigated in — not approved uses, and not guidance for any kind of use.
Sexual desire
Studied and approved (for one specific use) for low sexual desire via brain pathways.
Melanocortin system
Acts on brain melanocortin docking points, mainly MC4R.
Brain-based route
Works through the brain rather than blood flow, unlike some other treatments.
Related compounds
Developed from melanotan research; a relative of Melanotan II.
Research history
PT-141 was developed from melanocortin/melanotan research and moved through clinical trials for sexual dysfunction. It was FDA-approved as Vyleesi in 2019 for a specific condition.
State of the literature
PT-141 has peer-reviewed human research and is approved for one specific use. Use outside that approved use, or with a research-use-only product, is not established.
What to keep in mind
PT-141 is approved — but only for one narrow condition, at a studied dose, under medical care. Most of what is discussed online is outside that approval. The approval does not make a research-use-only product safe for unsupervised use, and it can raise blood pressure and cause nausea. Keep the approved use and the research-product use clearly separate.
Research tools
Evaluating a PT-141 (Bremelanotide) batch for laboratory research? These free, research-use-only calculators help you work the numbers and read the paperwork: the reconstitution calculator solves vial concentration and draw volume, and the COA reader walks a certificate line by line. For how much and how often PT-141 (Bremelanotide) is commonly used, see the dosing guides.
Batch-tested with published COAs
See what a published COA looks like
Midwest Compounds does not currently list PT-141 (Bremelanotide). Every compound it does sell is tested by an independent lab, with a batch-linked certificate of analysis you can check before you buy.
Citations
The summary above is drawn from published, peer-reviewed sources. Links open the abstract on PubMed, or the free full text on PubMed Central (PMC) where marked.
- Molinoff PB, et al. PT-141: a melanocortin agonist for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2003. Abstract
- Clayton AH, et al. Bremelanotide for female sexual dysfunctions in premenopausal women: a randomized, placebo-controlled dose-finding trial. Women's Health, 2016. Abstract