Calcitonin Salmon
Calcitonin Salmon is an FDA-approved calcitonin receptor agonist. Calcitonin binds the calcitonin receptor on osteoclasts, producing rapid loss of the ruffled border and reduced bone resorption, and acts at the renal tubule to increase calcium excretion. The salmon sequence binds the human receptor with higher affinity and is cleared more slowly than human calcitonin, which is why the salmon form is the one used clinically.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- —
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 3431.9 g/mol
- Half-life
- —
- FDA status
- Approved
- Administration Route
- intranasal, subcutaneous, intramuscular
- Frequency
- —
- Last updated
- Aug 30, 2026
- Reviewed
- Aug 30, 2026
Research summary
Synthetic 32-amino-acid polypeptide identical to salmon calcitonin, approved for Paget disease of bone, hypercalcaemia, and postmenopausal osteoporosis in women more than five years past menopause.
Peptide Library's Calcitonin Salmon 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.
Protocol
- Dosage Range
- —
- Frequency
- —
- Cycle
- —
- Administration Route
- intranasal, subcutaneous, intramuscular
- Reconstitution Guide
- —
Sequence & molecular data
| Molecular formula | C145H240N44O48S2 |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | 3431.9 g/mol |
| PubChem CID | 16220016 |
| FDA UNII | 7SFC6U2VI5 |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Calcitonin binds the calcitonin receptor on osteoclasts, producing rapid loss of the ruffled border and reduced bone resorption, and acts at the renal tubule to increase calcium excretion. The salmon sequence binds the human receptor with higher affinity and is cleared more slowly than human calcitonin, which is why the salmon form is the one used clinically.
Studies
- Modified Regulatory Pathways to Approve Generic Drugs in the US and a Systematic Review of Their Outcomes
- [The preliminary results of research on salcatonin treatment in the surgical therapy of jaw cysts]
- Effect of salcatonin given intranasally on early postmenopausal bone loss
- Calcitonin intranasal--unigene: Salcatonin intranasal--unigene
- Calcitonin (FORTICAL, MIACALCIN) for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures
Regulatory & research status
Calcitonin Salmon 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 |
|---|---|
| Research status | Approved product (see FDA status) |
| Availability | Prescription-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Unknown / Not Listed |
| Library classification | FDA-Approved |
Benefits
—
Potential Side Effects
No side effects listed yet for this entry.
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 freeze–thaw 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 →
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
Calcitonin Salmon: frequently asked questions
What is Calcitonin Salmon?
Synthetic 32-amino-acid polypeptide identical to salmon calcitonin, approved for Paget disease of bone, hypercalcaemia, and postmenopausal osteoporosis in women more than five years past menopause.
How does Calcitonin Salmon work?
Calcitonin binds the calcitonin receptor on osteoclasts, producing rapid loss of the ruffled border and reduced bone resorption, and acts at the renal tubule to increase calcium excretion. The salmon sequence binds the human receptor with higher affinity and is cleared more slowly than human calcitonin, which is why the salmon form is the one used clinically.
Is Calcitonin Salmon FDA approved?
Yes. Calcitonin Salmon 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 peptides are similar to Calcitonin Salmon?
Compounds most often compared with Calcitonin Salmon include Elamipretide (SS-31) and Methylene Blue. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- Modified Regulatory Pathways to Approve Generic Drugs in the US and a Systematic Review of Their Outcomes — Drugs, 2015External reference
- [The preliminary results of research on salcatonin treatment in the surgical therapy of jaw cysts] — Minerva Stomatol, 1991External reference
- Effect of salcatonin given intranasally on early postmenopausal bone loss — BMJ, 1989External reference
- Calcitonin intranasal--unigene: Salcatonin intranasal--unigene — Drugs R D, 2004External reference
- Calcitonin (FORTICAL, MIACALCIN) for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures — Orthop Rev (Pavia), 2021External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Aug 30, 2026 · Version 1
This Calcitonin Salmon 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 · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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