PT-141 (Bremelanotide)

Bremelanotide · Vyleesi

Sexual HealthApprovedApprovedPrescriptionSubQIntranasal

Popular for:Sexual dysfunction, FDA-approved for HSDD, melanocortin agonist

10

Registered Trials

16

Trial Publications

107

PubMed References

Approved

Evidence Level

Overview

PT-141 (Bremelanotide) is a synthetic melanocortin receptor agonist that is FDA-approved under the brand name Vyleesi for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women. The short version: people usually care about it for sexual dysfunction, fda-approved for hsdd, melanocortin agonist, but the strength of the evidence depends heavily on indication and study type.

PT-141 (Bremelanotide) is a synthetic melanocortin receptor agonist that is FDA-approved under the brand name Vyleesi for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women. It is the only FDA-approved peptide that works through the central nervous system to address sexual dysfunction.

Originally derived from Melanotan II research, PT-141 was developed after researchers noticed sexual arousal effects during tanning peptide trials. Unlike PDE5 inhibitors (Viagra, Cialis) which work on blood flow, PT-141 acts on the brain's melanocortin system to influence desire and arousal.

Research Snapshot

What the evidence says

Approved

PT-141 (Bremelanotide) currently shows 10 registered trials from ClinicalTrials.gov, 16 PubMed trial publications (14 RCT-tagged), and 107 PubMed references matching the stored source query. Treat PubMed references as literature surface area, not a count of clinical trials.

Known vs uncertain

Known signals

  • 10 registered trials are tracked from ClinicalTrials.gov intervention records.
  • 16 PubMed clinical-trial publications are indexed.
  • 14 PubMed randomized controlled trial publications are indexed.
  • 107 PubMed references are tracked separately from trial counts and can include animal, in-vitro, review, mechanism, or clinical records.

Open questions

  • Evidence strength may vary by indication, route, formulation, and population.
  • Public anecdotes can highlight interest or concern but do not establish clinical efficacy.
  • Regulatory status and compounding access can change independently from the research literature.

Mechanism of Action

PT-141 activates melanocortin receptors MC3R and MC4R in the hypothalamus, the brain region that regulates sexual behavior and arousal.

Key Research Benefits

FDA-approved for HSDD in premenopausal women (Vyleesi)
Works through CNS melanocortin pathways (not vascular)
Studied for both male and female sexual dysfunction
Only peptide FDA-approved for sexual function
Does not require sexual stimulation to take effect

Clinical Evidence Summary

Research Pipeline

Preclinical
Animal
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Approved

10

Registered Trials

16

Trial Publications

14

RCT Publications

107

PubMed References

ClinicalTrials.govPubMed ESearchCurated alias queryChecked May 3, 2026

Registered trials are ClinicalTrials.gov intervention records. Trial publications are PubMed records tagged as clinical trials or randomized controlled trials. PubMed references are broader source-query matches and can include animal studies, in-vitro work, reviews, mechanism papers, and trial publications.

10

Registered trials

16

Trial publications

14

RCT publications

107

PubMed references

52

Reviews

3

Meta-analyses

Registered trials source

Jun 1, 2026

Bremelanotide, PT-141

Uses curated ClinicalTrials.gov intervention aliases to avoid misleading registry matches.

View source

Publication counts source

May 3, 2026

PT-141, Bremelanotide, Vyleesi

Uses PT-141 and approved drug-name aliases instead of the parenthetical display label.

View source

FDA-approved as Vyleesi (2019) for HSDD in premenopausal women. Available via prescription. Also available as research compound.

Key PubMed References

107 PubMed references · showing top 23 by relevance

View all on PubMed

Female Syrian hamster analyses of bremelanotide, a US FDA approved drug for the treatment of female hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

Review

Borland JM, Kohut-Jackson AL, Peyla AC, et al. · Neuropharmacology · 2025

PMID: 39793696

Melanocortin Receptor Agonist Bremelanotide Induces Cell Death and Growth Inhibition in Glioblastoma CellsSuppression of Survivin Expression.

In Vitro

Suzuki S, Kitanaka C, Okada M · Anticancer research · 2024

PMID: 39197897

Small Effects, Questionable Outcomes: Bremelanotide for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder.

Human Study

Spielmans GI, Ellefson EM · Journal of sex research · 2024

PMID: 36809187

An evaluation of bremelanotide injection for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

Human Study

Cipriani S, Alfaroli C, Maseroli E, et al. · Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy · 2023

PMID: 36242769

Targeting the central melanocortin system for the treatment of metabolic disorders.

Review

Sweeney P, Gimenez LE, Hernandez CC, et al. · Nature reviews. Endocrinology · 2023

PMID: 37365323

Anecdotes & Sentiment

Public discussion, not clinical evidence

This section summarizes what people are talking about in public sources. It can be useful for spotting questions, hype cycles, and recurring concerns, but it is separate from the evidence sections above.

mixedAnecdotalMay 3, 2026

Experience variability

PT-141 public discussion is highly experience-driven, with recurring themes around response variability and side-effect tolerance.

Reddit / searchlow confidencereddit
Source

Side Effects & Safety

- Nausea (most common, ~40% in trials) - Facial flushing - Headache - Injection site reactions - Transient blood pressure elevation

Nausea (most common, ~40% in trials)
Facial flushing
Headache
Injection site reactions
Transient blood pressure elevation

Known Interactions

No curated interaction entry is live for PT-141 (Bremelanotide) yet.

Until the interaction table is fully populated, use the interaction checker and related peptides below to explore adjacent compounds and likely research pairings.

Comparison Pages

Comparison pages

All

No comparison page is linked yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Research Disclaimer

This page is for research and educational purposes only. The information presented is based on published scientific literature and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Regulatory status can vary by compound, formulation, indication, and jurisdiction. Check official labeling, registry records, and qualified professional guidance before making any health-related decision. The studies referenced are linked to their original PubMed sources for verification.