Source: https://peakpeptides.com/peptides/pt-141/ Peptide library · Melanocortin agonist # PT-141 Bremelanotide, a synthetic cyclic peptide that acts on melanocortin receptors in the central nervous system. Evidence includes animal pharmacology and controlled human trials in a defined adult clinical population. Last reviewed September 22, 2026 At a glance - **Also called:** Bremelanotide; bremelanotide acetate; BMT - **What it is:** A cyclic melanocortin-receptor peptide agonist - **Evidence:** Animals and controlled human clinical trials - **Compounded preparation:** Not FDA-approved; a separate approved product exists - **At Promise Peptides:** Listed; currently waitlist-only The short version PT-141 is another name used for bremelanotide, a lab-made cyclic peptide related to alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It activates melanocortin receptors involved in central nervous-system signaling. Research includes animal studies, early human pharmacology and large randomized trials in premenopausal women with a specific diagnosed sexual-health disorder. An FDA-approved bremelanotide injection exists for that narrow indication and population. A compounded PT-141 preparation is not FDA-approved, and the approved evidence cannot be generalized to every person or use. A licensed provider makes the individual decision. ## What it is PT-141 is the research code for bremelanotide, a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide related to the human melanocortin peptide alpha-MSH. It is designed mainly as an agonist at melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-4 receptors in the central nervous system. It is not a reproductive hormone, testosterone or a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and it does not work through the same pathway as those drug classes. Its sequence is Ac-Nle-cyclo[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-OH, with a lactam bridge joining side chains in the ring. The molecular formula is C50H68N14O10, molecular weight is 1,025.2 daltons and CAS number is 189691-06-3. ## Where the research stands Bremelanotide has a conventional development record for one defined indication, including animal mechanism work and controlled human trials. The evidence is population- and product-specific. It does not establish safety or benefit for men, postmenopausal women, other conditions or a compounded preparation. How far the evidence has climbed 1. Cell studies · Yes · Melanocortin-receptor pharmacology 2. Animal studies · Yes · Rodent and nonhuman-primate models 3. Small human pilots · Yes · Early human pharmacology studies 4. Controlled human trials · Yes · A separate approved product in a defined population 5. Compounded preparation · Not approved · A separate FDA-approved product exists Here is what selected studies looked at. Each names its species or population because the findings cannot be generalized beyond them. - **Early melanocortin pharmacology** (Animals · Humans · 2003): A development paper combined rat, nonhuman-primate and early male human observations and linked PT-141 activity to central melanocortin receptors. Those early data did not establish an approved indication.[1] - **Behavioral specificity in rats** (Female rats · 2004): A female-rat study measured distinct courtship-related behaviors and general movement. The result was an animal mechanism finding, not a human clinical outcome.[2] - **Two phase 3 trials** (Humans · 2019): Two randomized trials enrolled 1,267 premenopausal women with acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder and measured desire and distress scores against placebo. They did not test compounded PT-141.[3] - **Open-label extension** (Humans · 2019): An extension enrolled 684 women and measured safety and clinical endpoints, including treatment-related events. It did not test a compounded preparation or another population.[4] - **Brain-imaging crossover study** (Humans · 2022): A randomized crossover study in 31 premenopausal women with the diagnosed disorder used functional MRI to measure task-related brain processing. It did not test compounded PT-141 or other populations.[5] ## What the research can’t tell you - **Approval is population-specific**: The controlled program concerned premenopausal women with acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder. It does not establish an outcome for men, postmenopausal women or people without that diagnosis.[3] - **Compounded is not the approved product**: Evidence for the FDA-approved injection does not verify the quality, stability or clinical performance of a compounded PT-141 preparation. - **Common adverse effects matter**: In the longer study, nausea, flushing and headache were the most common treatment-related events.[4] - **Blood pressure is a labeled risk**: The approved label warns about transient blood-pressure increases and identifies cardiovascular conditions for which the product is contraindicated.[6] - **Pigmentation can occur**: Melanocortin receptors also participate in pigment biology. The label reports focal darkening with repeated use, which may not fully resolve.[6] - **Longer follow-up is still bounded**: An open-label extension adds information but does not provide the same protection against bias as a blinded comparison or settle very rare harms.[4] ## FDA status Approved product exists for one indication; compounded PT-141 is not FDA-approved FDA approved a bremelanotide injection in 2019 for acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. The label does not approve it for men, postmenopausal women or other indications.[6] A compounded PT-141 preparation is not the FDA-approved finished product. Any prescribing decision through Promise’s platform belongs to a licensed provider. FDA states that it does not verify compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality before marketing.[7] Promise Peptides is currently taking waitlist sign-ups. Joining is not a medical request and no prescription comes from it. ## A prescription route Promise is currently accepting waitlist signups. Joining is not a treatment request and does not result in a prescription. If treatment visits open, any treatment request would require clinical review; prescribing and pharmacy fulfillment would remain separate decisions. 1. **Start on Promise’s PT-141 page**: It shows what the treatment involves and its current availability. 2. **Answer the PT-141 questionnaire**: A licensed provider reviews health history, medicines and goals, and can decline. Not everyone qualifies. 3. **Pharmacy review is a separate step**: A prescription does not guarantee preparation or dispensing. A pharmacy must separately determine whether it can fulfill the prescription under the applicable requirements. A prescription does not make compounded PT-141 FDA-approved or extend the approved indication to another person or population; it reflects an individualized clinical decision. PT-141 at Promise Read the treatment information and view the current waitlist. [Join the Promise waitlist](https://mypromise.com/products/pt-141?utm_source=peak&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=library&utm_content=pt-141) Peak may earn money when readers become Promise patients. Joining does not guarantee future treatment availability. Availability would depend on the treatment, state, clinical review and separate pharmacy review. ## Questions ### Is PT-141 the same as bremelanotide? PT-141 is the research code commonly used for bremelanotide. A product’s regulatory status still depends on whether it is the approved finished drug or a compounded preparation. ### What receptors does PT-141 act on? It acts mainly as an agonist at melanocortin-3 and melanocortin-4 receptors, with central nervous-system signaling central to its pharmacology.[1] ### Is compounded PT-141 FDA-approved? No. An approved bremelanotide product exists for one indication and population, but the compounded form is not FDA-approved.[6][7] ## Sources 1. Molinoff PB, et al. PT-141: a melanocortin agonist for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. *Ann N Y Acad Sci*. 2003;994:96-102. [PubMed 12851303](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12851303/) 2. Pfaus J, et al. Selective facilitation of sexual solicitation in the female rat by a melanocortin receptor agonist. *Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A*. 2004;101:10201-10204. [PubMed 15226502](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15226502/) 3. Kingsberg SA, et al. Bremelanotide for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder: two randomized phase 3 trials. *Obstet Gynecol*. 2019;134:899-908. [PubMed 31599840](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31599840/) 4. Simon JA, et al. Long-term safety and efficacy of bremelanotide for hypoactive sexual desire disorder. *Obstet Gynecol*. 2019;134:909-917. [PubMed 31599847](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31599847/) 5. Thurston L, et al. Melanocortin 4 receptor agonism enhances sexual brain processing in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. *J Clin Invest*. 2022;132:e152341. [PubMed 36189794](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36189794/) 6. DailyMed. [Bremelanotide injection label](https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=f1d0c1b5-2f39-4bad-a6a4-0066e3ad5dcf). Published November 18, 2025. 7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/compounding-and-fda-questions-and-answers). ## Also in the library - [MOTS-c](https://peakpeptides.com/peptides/mots-c/) (Mitochondrial peptide) - [NAD+](https://peakpeptides.com/peptides/nad-plus/) (Coenzyme) - [Sermorelin](https://peakpeptides.com/peptides/sermorelin/) (Growth hormone) - [GHK-Cu](https://peakpeptides.com/peptides/ghk-cu/) (Copper tripeptide) --- Peak maps the terrain; it does not examine anyone, so nothing here is medical advice, and the decision about any treatment belongs to a licensed provider who has reviewed your health. Peak may earn money when readers become Promise patients. Peak is not affiliated with any company called Peak Peptides or Peak Performance Peptides.