Melanotan II (MT-II) is a synthetic analog of the pigment hormone alpha-MSH, developed at the University of Arizona in the 1990s, and it has never been approved as a drug anywhere; regulators in the US and UK have warned against it for years. It's sold online as "tanning injections" and nasal sprays. Don't confuse it with melanotan I (afamelanotide), which FDA approved in 2019 as Scenesse for a rare light-sensitivity disorder, or with bremelanotide (Vyleesi).
Notice: Research peptides are sold for in-vitro laboratory research only. They are not FDA-approved, not for human or animal consumption, and this page is not medical advice. It contains no dosing or use guidance.
What Melanotan II is
Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is a natural peptide that signals melanocortin receptors. One of those, MC1R, drives production of eumelanin, the dark skin pigment. Others are involved in appetite and sexual function.
Melanotan II is a cyclic analog of alpha-MSH. Researchers at the University of Arizona, including Victor Hruby and Mac Hadley, described it as a "superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide" (Dorr et al., Life Sciences, 1996). Its reported effects in people went beyond pigmentation, as the pilot study below shows.
The 1996 pilot study
The best-known human data is a single-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study in three healthy men (Dorr et al., 1996). The authors reported:
- Increased skin darkening in two of the three subjects, measured a week after the study ended.
- Mild nausea at most dose levels.
- Somnolence and fatigue in one subject.
- Spontaneous penile erections lasting hours, with stretching and yawning around their onset.
Three people is far too few to establish safety, and no larger trial of MT-II as a tanning agent has led to an approval.
Melanotan II vs melanotan I vs bremelanotide
| Melanotan II (MT-II) | Melanotan I (afamelanotide) | Bremelanotide (PT-141) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Cyclic alpha-MSH analog | MC1R agonist (per FDA) | Melanocortin receptor agonist (per FDA) |
| FDA status | Never approved | Approved Oct 8, 2019 as Scenesse implant | Approved June 21, 2019 as Vyleesi |
| Approved use | None | Increasing pain-free light exposure in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) | Acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women |
| Source | Dorr et al., 1996 | FDA announcement | FDA announcement |
Two details from those approvals are relevant to MT-II:
- Afamelanotide was approved for a rare genetic disorder, not for cosmetic tanning. FDA described it as an MC1R agonist that increases eumelanin "regardless of sunlight or artificial light."
- Vyleesi's FDA announcement reported darkening of "the gums and parts of the skin" in about 1% of trial patients, which didn't resolve in about half after stopping. Pigment effects are a known class effect.
Research vendors also sell melanotan I (see our melanotan 1 price page) and PT-141 (PT-141 prices). Neither research product is the approved drug.
FDA warnings and enforcement
FDA has treated Melanotan II as an unapproved drug for nearly two decades:
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2007 | FDA sends a warning letter to Melanocorp, Inc. of Tennessee, which sold MT-II as an injectable tanning product with skin cancer claims | FDA notice (2016) |
| Oct 2007 | FDA's CDER director says the product was "marketed and sold illegally as a preventative against skin cancer" | U.S. Pharmacist, Oct 18, 2007 |
| Nov 29, 2007 | An FDA letter calls MT-II "considered by FDA to be an unapproved drug" | FDA notice (2016) |
| Mar 11, 2015 | Melanocorp's owner pleads guilty to two counts of conspiracy related to continued US shipments | FDA notice (2016) |
| Apr 1, 2020 | FDA warning letter to Tailor Made Compounding lists Melanotan II among ineligible bulk substances, noting it had "not been nominated" for the 503A list | FDA |
| Apr 22, 2026 | FDA's Category 2 page lists Melanotan II among nominations "withdrawn by the nominators," noting: "Published case reports discuss serious adverse events including melanoma." | FDA |
The 2016 FDA document is a notice of opportunity for hearing on a proposed debarment of Melanocorp's owner. FDA's broader position on "research use only" labeling is in FDA peptide regulation in 2026.
UK MHRA warnings
The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has warned about melanotan for more than a decade:
- August 2013: the MHRA warned against unlicensed melanotan injections and nasal sprays sold online, in gyms and in tanning salons. It cited 18 reports covering 74 suspected side effects and said it had closed 72 websites selling to UK customers in three months (Get Safe Online, Aug 31, 2013). The MHRA said: "People should not be fooled that this is a shortcut to getting a tan safely."
- December 2021: in a freedom-of-information response, the MHRA reported 13 suspected adverse drug reaction (Yellow Card) reports linked to melanotan II from 2011 to 2021, and said: "We have repeatedly taken action to remove melanotan products so identified from sale" (MHRA FOI 21/1237). It noted that reports don't prove causation and that under-reporting is likely.
The same MHRA response says injectable tanning products aren't automatically medicines in UK law; it decides case by case, depending on how they're presented.
Other status (October 2026)
- WADA: the 2026 Prohibited List doesn't name melanotan II (WADA; 2026 list text).
- DEA: not on DEA's controlled substances list dated August 27, 2026.
More: are peptides legal?
Research-grade vials: what the market looks like
As of October 21, 2026, 72 vendors in our Melanotan 2 price index had it in stock, at a median of $4.00 per mg. The cheapest in-stock listings per mg:
| Vendor | Listing | Price | $/mg | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk Peptide Supply | MELANOTAN II 10mg | $15.00 | $1.50 | Review |
| Peptidology | MT2 11mg | $25.79 | $2.34 | Review |
| Sports Technology Labs | Melanotan II 10mg | $23.49 | $2.35 | Review |
Prices are as listed on vendors' sites on October 21, 2026 and change often. Nasal sprays and pre-mixed "tanning" products marketed to consumers aren't research reagents at all; FDA and the MHRA have targeted exactly that kind of marketing.
How to check a Melanotan II COA
- Confirm the molecule. MT-II, melanotan I and PT-141 are related and sometimes mislabeled. The mass-spec result should match the specific peptide named.
- Watch for code names. "MT2" is common; the certificate should still name melanotan II.
- Check measured content, not just purity. See peptide purity vs net content.
- Match the lot number to the vial and look for a recent test date.
- Verify the lab. Use our COA guide and COA checklist.
Bottom line
Melanotan II is a decades-old research compound that never became a medicine. The approved drugs in its family, afamelanotide and bremelanotide, are different molecules with narrow, specific indications. FDA has called MT-II an unapproved drug since 2007, and FDA's own compounding page now cites published reports of melanoma. Research-labeled MT-II is an unapproved chemical.
Sources are linked inline and were checked October 21, 2026.
