← Shelf·Cyclic α-MSH analog·X.
Melanotan II.
A cyclic synthetic 7-amino-acid analog of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH). Originally developed at the University of Arizona (Hadley, Hruby group) in the 1980s. Not FDA-approved; distinct from Melanotan I (afamelanotide), which IS FDA-approved under its own branded formulation for erythropoietic protoporphyria.
α-MSH is a hormone your pituitary and skin melanocytes produce, activating melanogenesis through the MC1R receptor. Melanotan II is a synthetic non-selective analog that binds multiple melanocortin receptors (MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, MC5R) with higher potency than native α-MSH.
Sold as a 'tanning peptide' across a large gray market. The publicly documented safety signal — melanoma risk from stimulating melanogenesis in existing nevi, plus severe cardiovascular and priapism reports — is more substantial than most sellers acknowledge.
Straight talk
Straight talk: this is the compound on this shelf with the loudest documented harm signal. Case reports in the dermatology literature describe melanoma developing in patients using Melanotan II, particularly on pre-existing nevi. Independent regulators in the UK, Ireland, and Australia have issued explicit warnings. Non-melanoma reports include severe nausea, priapism, and cardiovascular events. If you have any pre-existing skin lesion of unknown character, a dermatologist read before any exposure is not optional — it is the entire honest read.
What the research studies
The literature, not a summary of it.
Foundational α-MSH analog work: Hruby / Hadley labs at Arizona. Melanoma safety literature: Cardones, Grichnik, and others in Med Hypotheses, Br J Dermatol, JAAD. Regulator statements from MHRA (UK), HPRA (Ireland), TGA (Australia). Read the research yourself:
Recommended vendor · Amino Club
≥ 99% by HPLC on the current lot — ILS Laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025). Note: Amino Club sells this as a research chemical for laboratory study — the vendor's page carries its own safety framing that a reader should read before purchase.
$19.47 during Fall Sale (was $29.95)
35% off applied automatically at checkout when you land through this link.