Bremelanotide
Also known as: Vyleesi, PT-141, Bremelanotide acetate
Bremelanotide (also called Vyleesi or PT-141) is an FDA-approved melanocortin agonist. Bremelanotide is a cyclic heptapeptide melanocortin receptor agonist derived from melanotan II, with activity across MC1R, MC3R and MC4R and the greatest clinical relevance at MC4R. Its mechanism is central rather than vascular: MC4R activation in hypothalamic and limbic circuits modulates dopaminergic pathways governing sexual desire and excitation.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 189691-06-3
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 1025.2 g/mol
- Half-life
- ~2.7 hours
- FDA status
- Approved
- Evidence level
- FDA Approved
- Human dose established
- Yes
- Administration Route
- Subcutaneous
- Frequency
- As needed, at least 45 minutes before anticipated sexual activity; maximum one dose per 24 hours and 8 doses per month
- Last updated
- Sep 26, 2026
- Reviewed
- Aug 30, 2026
- Targets
- MC4RMC3R
Vendor price snapshot
Each vendor counts once, at the median price per mg of its own listings; the typical range is the middle half of vendors. From public vendor listings collected between Dec 2025 and Sep 2026, so confirm the live price on the vendor site. Peptide Library does not sell peptides.
- Vendors listing this peptide
- 29
- Listed offers
- 38
- Median price per mg
- $5.50/mg
- Typical $4.00โ$7.85/mg
Research summary
FDA-approved melanocortin agonist (Vyleesi) for acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. 1.75 mg subcutaneous autoinjector as needed.
Peptide Library's Bremelanotide profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
Bremelanotide dosage chart
Bremelanotide has an FDA-approved human dosage: 1.75 mg by subcutaneous autoinjector into the abdomen or thigh, taken as needed at least 45 minutes before anticipated sexual activity, with no more than one dose in 24 hours and no more than 8 doses per month. It is approved only for acquired, generalised hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women.
| Human dosing established | Yes |
|---|---|
| Studied dose range | 1.75 mg per dose, as needed |
| Route | Subcutaneous |
| Frequency | As needed, at least 45 minutes before anticipated sexual activity; maximum one dose per 24 hours and 8 doses per month |
| Duration studied | The label directs discontinuation if there is no improvement after 8 weeks |
| Titration | None. The approved dose is fixed at 1.75 mg with no escalation. |
| Evidence level | FDA Approved |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-05 |
Research-reported dosing
Doses as studied, one row per regimen. Different trials used different regimens; they are listed separately rather than averaged.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDA label โ VyleesiFDA-approved label ยท FDA prescribing information | Premenopausal women with acquired, generalised hypoactive sexual desire disorder | 1.75 mg | Subcutaneous autoinjector, abdomen or thigh | As needed; maximum 1 dose per 24 hours, 8 doses per month | Ongoing as needed | Hypoactive sexual desire disorder | VYLEESI (bremelanotide) injection โ FDA prescribing information, DailyMed |
| RECONNECT 301 โ phase 3, results postedClinical trial ยท Phase 3 randomised placebo-controlled trial with posted results | Premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (n=723) | 1.75 mg | Subcutaneous | As needed | 24 weeks | Sexual desire and related distress | NCT02333071 โ Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Bremelanotide in Premenopausal Women With HSDD |
| RECONNECT 302 โ phase 3, results postedClinical trial ยท Phase 3 randomised placebo-controlled trial with posted results | Premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (n=714) | 1.75 mg | Subcutaneous | As needed | 24 weeks | Sexual desire and related distress | NCT02338960 โ Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Bremelanotide in Premenopausal Women With HSDD |
Where sources disagree
- The approved product is an autoinjector delivering a fixed 1.75 mg dose. Research-grade PT-141 is supplied as a lyophilised powder for reconstitution, and doses quoted for it commonly range from 0.5 mg to 2 mg. Only 1.75 mg by autoinjector has been evaluated in the phase 3 programme and approved.
- The approval is specific to premenopausal women with HSDD. Use in men, and use for erectile function, has no approved indication and no phase 3 evidence in those populations behind the labelled dose.
Reconstitution
Common research vial sizes: 10 mg.
| Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration | Per 0.01 mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL | 50 mcg per 0.01 mL |
These figures are arithmetic only โ they convert a vial and a volume into a concentration. They are not a recommendation to take any dose.
Calculate reconstitution & dose โHandling & administration
- Reconstitution Guide
- Prefilled autoinjector - no reconstitution needed
- Injection Sites
- AbdomenThigh
- Concentration Example
- Pre-filled autoinjector: 1.75 mg per dose
- Timing Notes
- Inject subcutaneously in abdomen or thigh at least 45 minutes before anticipated sexual activity
- Expected Onset
- Effects typically begin within 45 minutes to 2 hours
Sequence & molecular data
| Molecular formula | C50H68N14O10 |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | 1025.2 g/mol |
| CAS number | 189691-06-3 |
| Half-life | ~2.7 hours |
| Appearance | Sterile solution for injection/autoinjector |
| Formulation | Prefilled Pen |
| PubChem CID | 9941379 |
| FDA UNII | 6Y24O4F92S |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL2070241 |
| DrugBank | DB11653 |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Bremelanotide is a cyclic heptapeptide melanocortin receptor agonist derived from melanotan II, with activity across MC1R, MC3R and MC4R and the greatest clinical relevance at MC4R. Its mechanism is central rather than vascular: MC4R activation in hypothalamic and limbic circuits modulates dopaminergic pathways governing sexual desire and excitation. This distinguishes it from PDE5 inhibitors, which act peripherally on smooth muscle blood flow and address arousal mechanics rather than desire. Because it is dosed on demand and acts on central motivational circuits, the pharmacological target is the desire pathway itself. Transient blood pressure elevation and nausea reflect its residual activity at other melanocortin receptors.
Origin
Cyclic heptapeptide analog of ฮฑ-MSH; same peptide as research-chem PT-141.
Targets
Studies
- Bremelanotide: New Drug Approved for Treating Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
- Safety Profile of Bremelanotide Across the Clinical Development Program
- The Patient Experience of Premenopausal Women Treated with Bremelanotide for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: RECONNECT Exit Study Results
- An effect on the subjective sexual response in premenopausal women with sexual arousal disorder by bremelanotide (PT-141), a melanocortin receptor agonist
- Small Effects, Questionable Outcomes: Bremelanotide for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
Regulatory & research status
Bremelanotide is an FDA-approved product for specific labelled indications. Approval does not extend to the research contexts described on this page, and approved products are prescription medicines.
| FDA status | Approved |
|---|---|
| Availability | Prescription-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Permitted |
| Library classification | FDA-Approved |
Benefits
Bremelanotide side effects
The effects below are drawn from Bremelanotide's prescribing information, which lists the full adverse-reaction data.
Side Effects
- Nausea
- Flushing
- Injection-site reactions
- Headache
- Transient blood-pressure rise
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freezeโthaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution โ
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544โ575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
Bremelanotide: frequently asked questions
What is Bremelanotide?
FDA-approved melanocortin agonist (Vyleesi) for acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. 1.75 mg subcutaneous autoinjector as needed. Bremelanotide is a cyclic heptapeptide melanocortin receptor agonist derived from melanotan II, with activity across MC1R, MC3R and MC4R and the greatest clinical relevance at MC4R. Its mechanism is central rather than vascular: MC4R activation in hypothalamic and limbic circuits modulates dopaminergic pathways governing sexual desire and excitation.
What are the side effects of Bremelanotide?
Side effects recorded for Bremelanotide from its prescribing information include nausea, flushing, injection-site reactions, headache and transient blood-pressure rise. Research-grade vials sold online are not the licensed product. This is reference information, not medical advice.
How does Bremelanotide work?
Bremelanotide is a cyclic heptapeptide melanocortin receptor agonist derived from melanotan II, with activity across MC1R, MC3R and MC4R and the greatest clinical relevance at MC4R. Its mechanism is central rather than vascular: MC4R activation in hypothalamic and limbic circuits modulates dopaminergic pathways governing sexual desire and excitation.
Is Bremelanotide FDA approved?
Yes. Bremelanotide is approved by the FDA, and approved products are prescription medicines. Approval is always for specific indications studied in clinical trials, so an approved status does not mean the compound is approved for every use it is discussed for. Research-chemical material sold under the same name is not the approved product.
What is the half-life of Bremelanotide?
Reported half-life for Bremelanotide is ~2.7 hours. Half-life describes how long the compound persists in circulation, not how long any effect lasts, and published figures vary with route of administration, formulation and the population studied.
Is Bremelanotide banned in sport?
Bremelanotide is recorded here as permitted in sport. Anti-doping status is revised annually, so athletes subject to testing should confirm against the current WADA Prohibited List before use.
What peptides are similar to Bremelanotide?
Compounds most often compared with Bremelanotide include Melanotan II, Afamelanotide, Setmelanotide and KPV. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
How long does Bremelanotide take to show effects in research protocols?
The research protocol on this profile lists an expected onset of effects typically begin within 45 minutes to 2 hours. This is a protocol note describing when studies and researchers report observing changes, not a measured clinical outcome, and it varies with the model, dose and endpoint studied.
Where is Bremelanotide administered in research protocols?
Research protocols on this profile use subcutaneous administration, with recorded sites including abdomen, thigh. Site rotation and sterile technique are standard practice in the research literature; this describes protocol conditions and is not guidance for use.
References
- FDA label โ VyleesiExternal reference
- Bremelanotide: New Drug Approved for Treating Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder โ Ann Pharmacother, 2020External reference
- Safety Profile of Bremelanotide Across the Clinical Development Program โ J Womens Health (Larchmt), 2022External reference
- The Patient Experience of Premenopausal Women Treated with Bremelanotide for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: RECONNECT Exit Study Results โ J Womens Health (Larchmt), 2021External reference
- An effect on the subjective sexual response in premenopausal women with sexual arousal disorder by bremelanotide (PT-141), a melanocortin receptor agonist โ J Sex Med, 2006External reference
- Small Effects, Questionable Outcomes: Bremelanotide for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder โ J Sex Res, 2024External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
- PT-141 (Bremelanotide): An Approved Drug and a Research Chemical at the Same Time
- PT-141 peptide guide
- Peptide stacks: combinations by research goalStacks
- Peptide dosage chart: dose, route and frequencyCategory
- Peptide calculator with the Bremelanotide preset
- How to store peptides before and after reconstitution
Related peptides
Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial ยท Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 ยท Updated Sep 26, 2026 ยท Version 5
This Bremelanotide profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy ยท How profiles are compiled ยท Report an error
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