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PT-141

Melanocortin receptor agonist · 7 amino acids
What it is

PT-141 (bremelanotide) is a lab-made cyclic seven-amino-acid melanocortin receptor agonist, related to alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, studied and later approved for low sexual desire in premenopausal women.[1][2][3]

Origin: Developed at Palatin Technologies as PT-141, a melanocortin agonist for sexual dysfunction; FDA approved bremelanotide as Vyleesi for a labeled HSDD use.[1][2][3]

What researchers study it for

Research areas

Large human trials and the FDA-approved label point to several research and labeled uses.

  • Acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women, the labeled use for Vyleesi[2][3]
  • Sexual desire and related endpoints in the phase 3 RECONNECT trials[3]
  • Earlier studies of erectile response and sexual arousal in men and women during development[1][4]

Evidence level

Level 4 of 4: Large human trialsTwo identical phase 3 RECONNECT trials randomized 1,247 premenopausal women with HSDD, and bremelanotide is FDA approved as Vyleesi for that labeled use.[2][3]

Why so few human trials?

Cautions

Studies and regulators point to several reasons for care.

  • FDA label warns about transient increases in blood pressure and decreases in heart rate, focal hyperpigmentation, and nausea[2]
  • Vyleesi is contraindicated in uncontrolled hypertension or known cardiovascular disease, and is not indicated for HSDD in postmenopausal women or in men, or to enhance sexual performance[2]
  • The approved brand-name medicine is for a specific labeled use; research materials are not that medicine[2]

PT-141 (bremelanotide) is FDA approved as Vyleesi for acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women, for the uses on its label.[2]

Also called

PT-141 goes by several names.

  • Bremelanotide[2][3]
  • Vyleesi, the FDA-approved brand name[2]
  • Melanocortin receptor agonist[1][2]

Good to know

The approved Vyleesi product is a finished medicine in a single-dose autoinjector reviewed by FDA; a research vial of PT-141 is not the same as that brand-name product.[2]

Handling

Storage basics General

These general basics apply to most freeze-dried research peptides.

Most research peptides come as a freeze-dried powder in a sealed vial
Unmixed vials are generally kept cold, dry, and away from light
Mixed solutions are generally refrigerated, since they are less stable than the dry powder
Peptides 101For mixing basicsNPL Dose CalculatorTo work out concentration after mixing
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Sources and studies

These studies and official pages are the research behind this profile.