# MT2 Dosage in the Research Literature — Melanotan 2 Protocols and Pharmacokinetics

> MT2 dosage figures from the published research literature: Phase I human study doses, preclinical protocols, route comparisons, and Melanotan 2 half-life pharmacokinetic data. Research context only.

This page documents the Melanotan 2 (MT-II) dosage protocols described in published research. All figures are from primary literature sources. This site does not provide human use recommendations. MT-II has not been approved by any regulatory agency for any indication.

## Doses Studied in the Research Literature

The Dorr 1996 Phase I study: 0.01 mg/kg SC initial dose, escalation to 0.025 mg/kg over five administrations over ten days. [1] The Wessells 1998 erectile function study: 0.025 mg/kg SC in ten men. [2] The 2000 expansion: 0.025 mg/kg across 20 men; severe nausea in 12.9%. [3]

| Dose | Route | Species | Reference |
|------|-------|---------|-----------|
| 0.01–0.025 mg/kg | Subcutaneous | Human | Dorr 1996, Wessells 1998/2000 [1][2][3] |
| 20 mcg/kg q48h | Subcutaneous | Rat | Ter Laak 2003 [13] |
| 225 ng total ICV | Intracerebroventricular | Mouse | Heijboer 2005 [12] |
| 0.1–1 nmol bilateral | Intra-NAcc | Mouse | Eliason 2022 [6] |

## Melanotan 2 Half-Life and Pharmacokinetics

Plasma half-life approximately 1 hour based on rat IV pharmacokinetic data. Ugwu 1994: radiolabeled HPLC and bioassay methods, IV 0.3 mg/kg in rats, both methods correlated (r=0.90, p<0.001). Oral bioavailability in rat: 4.6%. [16] Alpha-MSH plasma half-life: ~10–15 min in rodents; MT-II's cyclic backbone and D-Phe7 substitution confer ~4–6 fold metabolic stability improvement.

Melanogenic effects persist for weeks to months after plasma clearance — eumelanin already synthesized in melanocytes does not depend on continued peptide presence.

## Onset of Action in Research Studies

Transient effects emerged within 30–60 minutes of subcutaneous injection in the Dorr 1996 human trial. [1] Pigmentation changes were measurable at 2–3 weeks.

## Administration Routes in Research Protocols

Human trials used subcutaneous injection. [1][2][3] Paiva 2017: IV MT-II induced Fos in hypothalamic oxytocin neurons; intranasal MT-II produced no detectable central Fos induction in rats. [15] ICV route (Heijboer 2005, Raposinho 2003) used to isolate central receptor effects. [12]

## Reconstitution in Research Settings

Published protocols describe reconstitution in sterile water or bacteriostatic saline. Lyophilized form stable at 4°C or below for extended storage. Oral bioavailability 4.6% in rats [16] — the reason subcutaneous administration is used in all clinical-stage human trials.

## References

[1] Dorr RT et al. Life Sciences. 1996;58(20):1777-1784. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8637402/
[2] Wessells H et al. Journal of Urology. 1998;160(2):389-393. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9679884/
[3] Wessells H et al. International Journal of Impotence Research. 2000;12 Suppl 4:S74-S79. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11035391/
[6] Eliason NL et al. Neuropeptides. 2022;96:102289. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36155088/
[12] Heijboer AC et al. Diabetologia. 2005;48(8):1621-1626. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15971058/
[13] Ter Laak MP et al. European Journal of Pharmacology. 2003;462(1-3):179-183. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12591111/
[15] Paiva L et al. Journal of Neuroendocrinology. 2017;29(2):e12453. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28009464/
[16] Ugwu SO et al. Biopharmaceutics and Drug Disposition. 1994;15(6):487-499. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7981427/

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An editorial reading of the peer-reviewed Melanotan 2 record — Phase I trials, preclinical mechanism studies, and pharmacovigilance case reports, indexed to source.