PT-141
PT-141 (Bremelanotide)
Research Parameters
- Typical Dose Range
- Research protocols: 1 to 2 mg, dosed 45 minutes before activity. Clinical (Vyleesi): 1.75 mg subcutaneous, on-demand.
- Half-Life
- ~2.7 hours
- Administration Route
- Subcutaneous, Intranasal
Dosing information is for research purposes only and has not been evaluated by the FDA.
PT-141 is the rare peptide in this library that actually crossed the finish line to FDA approval. Vyleesi, approved in 2019 for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. That means it has a clinical human dataset most peptides here don't have. It also means researchers are studying something real, with known effect sizes.
What makes PT-141 different from every other arousal compound most people have heard of: it works on the brain, not on blood flow. Sildenafil and the other PDE5 inhibitors work downstream on the vascular response. PT-141 works upstream on the central nervous system signal that initiates arousal in the first place. That's why the research profile applies to both men and women, and why it produces an effect even in cases where vascular compounds don't.
For research purposes only.
Mechanism of Action
PT-141 is a selective melanocortin receptor agonist targeting MC3 and MC4, the receptors involved in central nervous system arousal signaling. It was developed from Melanotan II specifically to isolate the arousal effect from the pigmentation one. Its action is central (brain-based) rather than peripheral (vascular).
Citations
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is PT-141 used for in research?
Research and clinical work focus on sexual arousal and desire in both men and women. It acts centrally on melanocortin receptors rather than peripherally on blood flow, which is what distinguishes it from vascular compounds. For research purposes only.
- How does PT-141 compare to ED medications like sildenafil?
Sildenafil works on blood flow (PDE5 inhibition); PT-141 works on the nervous system (melanocortin receptors). They address different stages of the arousal response, which is why some research examines them in combination rather than as alternatives. For research purposes only.
- What's the typical research protocol for PT-141?
On-demand dosing 45 minutes before activity is the standard in both research and the approved clinical indication. Daily dosing is not supported by the literature and increases side effect risk. For research purposes only.