Evaluation of melanotan-II, a superpotent cyclic melanotropic peptide in a pilot phase-I clinical study.

Dorr RT, Lines R, Levine N, Brooks C, Xiang L, Hruby VJ, Hadley ME

Life sciences1 Jan 1996Cited by 93 (Europe PMC)

PMID8637402DOI10.1016/0024-3205(96)00160-9PepBankPUB-08637402

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

01HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome
In healthy men, mild nausea not requiring antiemetic treatment was reported at most Melanotan II dose levels.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, mild nausea needing no treatment was reported at most Melanotan II doses.
Peptide
Melanotan II
Outcome
Not applicableMild nausea
Study
n = 3
Outcome group
Gastrointestinal adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Studied dose
0.01-0.03 mg/kg · subcutaneous · 2 consecutive weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Mild nausea, not requiring antiemetic treatment, was reported at most MT-II dose levels.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A single-blind, alternating day (saline or MT-II), placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 3 normal male volunteers at the starting dose of 0.01 mg/kg of MT-II.
Summary · context
Subcutaneous injections of MT-II or saline were given daily (Monday-Friday) for 2 consecutive weeks.
Report a problemFND-0863740202
02HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome
In healthy men, a stretching and yawning complex appeared after Melanotan II dosing.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, stretching and yawning appeared after Melanotan II doses.
Peptide
Melanotan II
Outcome
Not applicableStretching and yawning complex
Study
n = 3
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
0.01-0.03 mg/kg · subcutaneous · 2 consecutive weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
A stretching and yawning complex appeared to correlate with the onset of spontaneous, penile erections which were intermittently experienced for 1-5 hours after MT-II dosing, depending on the MT-II dose.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A single-blind, alternating day (saline or MT-II), placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 3 normal male volunteers at the starting dose of 0.01 mg/kg of MT-II.
Summary · context
Subcutaneous injections of MT-II or saline were given daily (Monday-Friday) for 2 consecutive weeks.
Report a problemFND-0863740203
03HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy men, Melanotan II dosing was followed by spontaneous penile erections lasting 1-5 hours, depending on dose.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, spontaneous erections lasting 1 to 5 hours followed Melanotan II doses, depending on the dose.
Peptide
Melanotan II
Outcome
IncreaseSpontaneous penile erections
Study
n = 3
Outcome group
Sexual function · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
0.01-0.03 mg/kg · subcutaneous · 2 consecutive weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
duration of erections
1 to 5 hours
after MT-II dosing
Source sentences
Summary
A stretching and yawning complex appeared to correlate with the onset of spontaneous, penile erections which were intermittently experienced for 1-5 hours after MT-II dosing, depending on the MT-II dose.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A single-blind, alternating day (saline or MT-II), placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 3 normal male volunteers at the starting dose of 0.01 mg/kg of MT-II.
Summary · context
Subcutaneous injections of MT-II or saline were given daily (Monday-Friday) for 2 consecutive weeks.
Report a problemFND-0863740204
04HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy men, two subjects had increased pigmentation of the face, upper body and buttock 1 week after Melanotan II dosing ended.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, two of three had darker skin on the face, upper body and buttock a week after Melanotan II dosing ended.
Peptide
Melanotan II
Outcome
IncreaseSkin pigmentation
Study
n = 3
Outcome group
Pigmentation · Skin and wound
Studied dose
0.01-0.03 mg/kg · subcutaneous · 2 consecutive weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Two subjects had increased pigmentation in the face, upper body and buttock, as measured by quantitative reflectance and by visual perception 1 week after MT-II dosing ended.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A single-blind, alternating day (saline or MT-II), placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 3 normal male volunteers at the starting dose of 0.01 mg/kg of MT-II.
Summary · context
Subcutaneous injections of MT-II or saline were given daily (Monday-Friday) for 2 consecutive weeks.
Report a problemFND-0863740205
05HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome
In healthy men, the 0.03 mg/kg dose of Melanotan II produced Grade II somnolence and fatigue in one of two subjects.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, Melanotan II at 0.03 mg/kg caused moderate sleepiness and tiredness in one of two men.
Peptide
Melanotan II
Outcome
Not applicableGrade II somnolence and fatigue
Study
n = 2
Outcome group
Adverse events · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
0.03 mg/kg · subcutaneous · 2 consecutive weeksAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
dose
0.03 mg/kg
Grade II somnolence and fatigue
Source sentences
Summary
The 0.03 mg/kg dose produced Grade II somnolence and fatigue in one of two subjects (WHO standards).
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
A single-blind, alternating day (saline or MT-II), placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 3 normal male volunteers at the starting dose of 0.01 mg/kg of MT-II.
Summary · context
Subcutaneous injections of MT-II or saline were given daily (Monday-Friday) for 2 consecutive weeks.
Report a problemFND-0863740201

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
9 Oct 2026, 18:17 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:04 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

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