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Research use only (RUO). All products are sold strictly for laboratory and research purposes — not for human or veterinary consumption. Purchasers must be 21 or older.
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© 2026 New-U Research Compounds · new-u.io · @new.u.io
Melanotan-2
Pick your pack · how long it lasts
At 1.00 mg/wk — select pack size
1 × 10-vial pack required for packing — samples add on to any pack
Lab-direct quality — full packs or single-vial samples
Every batch ships straight from the lab that synthesises it — sealed, tamper-evident, and HPLC-verified to >99% purity with a batch-linked Certificate of Analysis. View the batch Certificate of Analysis → Buying direct means you pay the lab-direct rate on every vial, with nothing stacked on top.
Order a full sealed 10-vial research pack for a complete study supply, or add a single-vial sample alongside your pack to trial a new compound first. Same lab, same batch, same verified purity — scaled to whatever your research needs.
What It's Researched For
In plain terms, Melanotan-2 is studied for skin tanning plus libido and appetite, because it hits several melanocortin receptors at once. Here is what that looks like across the research.
Tanning & skin pigment
Research explores how it darkens the skin by switching on natural pigment production, with little or no sun needed. Small early human studies and animal work both look at this.
Libido & sexual function
Animal studies and early human research investigate its effect on arousal and sexual function, the brain pathway that later inspired the FDA-approved PT-141.
Appetite & body weight
Animal studies look at reduced food intake and changes in body composition through the brain's appetite circuits.
Melanocortin biology tool
Used in research as a benchmark compound for mapping how the melanocortin receptor family works.
Overview
Melanotan-2 (MT-2) is a cyclic non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist studied for UV-independent skin pigmentation, appetite modulation, and sexual arousal research.
Melanotan-2 is a lab-engineered shortened and cyclised version of α-MSH, the natural hormone your body uses to trigger tanning. The modifications make it far more resistant to enzyme breakdown and much more potent than the natural molecule at binding all four melanocortin receptors.
Because MT-2 is non-selective, it hits the receptors that control pigmentation (MC1R), sexual arousal and appetite (MC4R), and exocrine function (MC5R) at the same time. In research this produces the characteristic triple signature: darker pigmentation, reduced food intake, and upregulated libido in animal models.
Unlike its selective cousin afamelanotide (Melanotan-1), MT-2 is not approved for any human therapeutic use. It is a research compound only, and its non-selective profile is part of why bremelanotide (PT-141) was later developed as a more targeted MC4R agonist.
Research Video
Mechanism of Action
MT-2 binds all four melanocortin receptors, triggering melanin production in the skin and activating appetite and arousal circuits in the brain.
Hruby and colleagues (Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1995) designed MT-2 as a lactam-bridged cyclic heptapeptide preserving the conserved His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp pharmacophore. The D-Phe7 substitution confers protease resistance and superpotent receptor binding. Rat PK (Ugwu et al., Pharmaceutical Research, 1994) gives an IV t½ of 0.5-1.5 h, Vss 0.2-0.5 L/kg, and ~4.6% oral bioavailability. Because MT-2 crosses the blood-brain barrier, receptor activation is both peripheral and central - which is why nausea and facial flushing are the most commonly reported side effects in research.
Common Questions People Are Asking
What is Melanotan-2?
Melanotan-2 (MT-2) is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide analogue of α-MSH (Ac-Nle-c[Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys]-NH₂, MW 1024.18 Da) that non-selectively activates the MC1R, MC3R, MC4R and MC5R melanocortin receptors. It is supplied as a lyophilised research-grade powder for laboratory use only — it is not approved for human use.
What does Melanotan-2 do?
In research models MT-2 activates MC1R to stimulate eumelanin synthesis (the pathway behind UV-independent pigmentation), and activates MC4R in the hypothalamus, which is associated with appetite suppression and arousal signalling. These are findings in animal/research models; New-U makes no human-use or cosmetic claims and supplies MT-2 for research use only.
Does Melanotan-2 work without sun?
Because MT-2 stimulates melanocyte MC1R directly, melanogenesis can be triggered in research models with little or no UV exposure — unlike a normal tan that requires sunlight. Published observations note that UV exposure still substantially accelerates and deepens the studied pigmentation response. This is research context only, not a cosmetic or human-use recommendation.
Does Melanotan-2 change eye color?
There is no credible scientific evidence that MT-2 changes iris (eye) colour. The melanocytes it acts on are in the skin and hair; the documented pigmentation effects are darker skin and darkening of existing moles/freckles, not eye colour. Reported for research context only.
How is Melanotan-2 reconstituted?
Lyophilised MT-2 is dissolved in bacteriostatic water for multi-use research vials. Concentration in mg/mL equals the vial mass in mg divided by the millilitres of diluent added — e.g. a 10 mg vial reconstituted with 1 mL gives 10 mg/mL. Keep the reconstituted vial refrigerated at 1–6 °C and protected from light. This is laboratory preparation math only; no human-use dosing guidance is provided.
What is the difference between Melanotan-1 and Melanotan-2?
Melanotan-1 (afamelanotide) is a linear 13-amino-acid α-MSH analog that is more selective for MC1R and is EMA/FDA-approved as Scenesse for erythropoietic protoporphyria. Melanotan-2 is a smaller cyclic heptapeptide that activates MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R non-selectively, producing broader effects and more side effects.
Why does Melanotan-2 cause nausea and facial flushing?
Those effects come from non-selective activation of MC4R and MC5R in the brain and exocrine glands. MC4R activation in hypothalamic nuclei drives both appetite suppression and nausea, while MC5R stimulates sebaceous secretion and vasomotor responses that show up as facial flushing.
How does Melanotan-2 relate to PT-141?
PT-141 (bremelanotide) is essentially an active metabolite of Melanotan-2 with a free carboxylic acid instead of an amide at the C-terminus. It is more selective for MC4R-mediated sexual arousal pathways and is FDA-approved as Vyleesi for generalised HSDD in premenopausal women.
How should Melanotan-2 be stored?
Keep lyophilised powder at −20 °C in the freezer. Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, refrigerate at 1-6 °C and protect from light. Reconstituted solutions are generally stable for several weeks under those conditions.
What Melanotan-2 dosage is described in research?
The research literature typically describes a low-microgram subcutaneous "loading" phase followed by smaller intermittent "maintenance" amounts, with melanogenesis driving the studied pigmentation response. New-U publishes this only as descriptive research context - it is not a dosing instruction, and Melanotan-2 is supplied strictly for laboratory research, not human use.
What does Melanotan-2 before and after show in studies?
In pigmentation research, MC1R activation increases eumelanin synthesis, so studied endpoints describe a gradual darkening over roughly 1-4 weeks of repeated exposure that fades once dosing stops. Magnitude depends heavily on baseline skin type, amount and UV exposure. Reported for research context only - not a cosmetic or human-use claim.
How long does Melanotan-2 take to work and how long does it last?
Pigmentation is cumulative rather than immediate: pigmentation research describes a gradual darkening building over roughly 1-4 weeks of repeated low-dose exposure, then fading over weeks once dosing stops as melanocytes turn over. The peptide itself clears quickly (rodent IV half-life ~0.5-1.5 h) but the studied pigment effect outlasts the circulating compound. These are descriptive research-context observations, not human-use or cosmetic guidance.
What are the side effects of Melanotan-2 reported in research?
The literature most commonly reports nausea, facial flushing, appetite suppression and darkening of existing moles/freckles, arising from non-selective MC3R/MC4R/MC5R activation. New-U supplies Melanotan-2 as a research compound only and makes no safety or human-use claims; these are summarised research findings, not medical advice.
Is Melanotan-2 legal, and is it FDA-approved?
Melanotan-2 is not approved by the FDA, EMA or any major regulator for human use - only the related, more selective afamelanotide (Melanotan-1 / Scenesse) and bremelanotide (PT-141 / Vyleesi) hold approvals for specific indications. Melanotan-2 is sold in the US strictly as a research compound, labelled research use only and not for human consumption; buyers are responsible for compliance in their jurisdiction.
Where can I buy Melanotan-2?
Right here — Melanotan-2 is supplied directly by New-U Research Compounds on this page. Every batch is independently third-party tested to >99% HPLC purity with a batch-linked Certificate of Analysis, supplied as lyophilised research-grade material, and shipped direct from source worldwide in discreet, tracked packaging. Strictly for laboratory research use only — not for human use.
How much does Melanotan-2 cost?
Melanotan-2 pricing is shown live on this page, per pack size — 10-vial research packs as standard, with single-vial sample options on selected compounds. Larger vial strengths lower the per-mg cost, every order includes the batch Certificate of Analysis, and shipping is free on orders over $300.
Is Melanotan-2 third-party tested?
Yes. Every Melanotan-2 batch is verified by independent laboratories (Janoshik Analytics and Freedom Diagnostics) for identity and purity, with a batch-linked Certificate of Analysis confirming >99% purity by HPLC. Every order ships with its COA, and current batch certificates are published on our COA page.
How do I buy Melanotan-2?
Add the Melanotan-2 pack size you need to your cart and check out: enter your shipping details, then choose your payment method — cryptocurrency or card — on the next step. Every order ships with its batch Certificate of Analysis (COA). Melanotan-2 is supplied strictly for laboratory research use only, not for human or veterinary use.
What payment methods can I use to buy Melanotan-2?
At checkout you can pay by cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH, SOL, LTC, USDC, USDT and more) or by card, each handled by a dedicated secure payment provider. You choose your method after confirming your order.
How fast is shipping, and do you ship worldwide?
Yes — we ship worldwide in discreet, unmarked, temperature-stable, tracked packaging. Delivery typically takes 6–14 business days, and shipping is free on orders over $300.
Pharmacokinetics
Research-Observed Effects
Dosage Ranges (Research Context)
Research-context subcutaneous dosing reported in the literature. Not a clinical recommendation.
Stacking Compatibility
Compatible compounds
Avoid combinations
Side Effects (Observed in Literature)
Common
Rare
Dose-dependent
Evidence Tier
Overall: Mixed (human + animal)
Mechanism is well-characterised in human and animal receptor pharmacology (Tier 1-2). Pigmentation and arousal endpoints have small human pilot studies (Tier 1). Long-term safety in research subjects is predominantly anecdotal (Tier 3). MT-2 itself is not FDA-approved; bremelanotide (PT-141, closely related) is approved for HSDD.
Tier 1 · Human clinical
Tier 2 · Animal
Tier 3 · Anecdotal
Source References & Further Reading
Last reviewed: 16 June 2026 · New-U Research Compounds
Key Characteristics
Specifications
About Melanotan-2 (MT-2): Tanning, Libido, Dosage & Melanocortin Research Guide
Melanotan-2 came out of a University of Arizona search for an α-MSH analog that could protect fair-skinned people from UV damage without requiring sun exposure. The cyclic structure and D-Phe substitution solved two problems at once - it made the peptide stable in the bloodstream, and it turned it into a much more potent agonist than the natural hormone it was modelled on.
The non-selective profile is both MT-2's strength and its limitation. It does produce the expected UV-independent pigmentation, but it also activates MC4R in the hypothalamus, which is why research subjects routinely experience nausea, facial flushing, and changes in appetite and libido. That hypothalamic arm of the pharmacology is exactly what inspired the development of the more targeted MC4R agonist bremelanotide (PT-141).
New-U Research Compounds supplies Melanotan-2 as a lyophilised powder at >99% HPLC purity, independently verified by third-party labs. Material is strictly for in-vitro and preclinical research. MT-2 is not approved for human therapeutic use, is a WADA-prohibited substance for competing athletes, and is not a substitute for medically supervised treatment of any condition.
Customer Reviews
Good UK delivery
Ordered Melanotan 2 from New-U and it arrived quickly with tracking. Packaging was discreet and the vial was protected properly.
— Giulia R****** · 30 June 2026
Professional product page
The New-U Melanotan 2 page had the key details laid out clearly. Product info, COA access and lab-use wording were all easy to understand.
— Saeed M**** · 30 June 2026
Clear MT-2 COA
The Melanotan 2 COA was easy to find on the New-U site. Batch details matched the vial when it arrived, which made verification straight forward.
— Mira K******** · 30 June 2026
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Descriptive catalog comparison for research sourcing decisions — not dosing guidance. All compounds are for laboratory research use only.