The literature

PT-141 references

Every source cited across this site — the pivotal trials, the mechanism studies, the regulatory label, and the critical reviews.

How to read this list

Each PT-141 reference below is numbered to match the inline citations across the site. The list spans the foundational pharmacology, the pivotal Phase 3 RECONNECT trials and their open-label extension, the mechanistic fMRI study, the US prescribing information, and the critical reviews that question the size of the benefit. Where a DOI or PubMed identifier exists, it is given. This is the complete cited record for the site; it is editorial commentary on publicly available science, not medical advice.

  1. Molinoff PB, Shadiack AM, Earle D, Diamond LE, Quon CY. PT-141: a melanocortin agonist for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2003;994:96-102.
  2. Pfaus J, Shadiack A, Van Soest T, Tse M, Molinoff P. Selective facilitation of sexual solicitation in the female rat by a melanocortin receptor agonist. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004;101:10201-10204.
  3. Kingsberg SA, Clayton AH, Portman D, Williams LA, Krop J, Jordan R, Lucas J, Simon JA. Bremelanotide for the Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: Two Randomized Phase 3 Trials. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;134(5):899-908.
  4. Simon JA, Kingsberg SA, Portman D, Williams LA, Krop J, Jordan R, Lucas J, Clayton AH. Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Bremelanotide for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;134(5):909-917.
  5. Thurston L, Hunjan T, Mills EG, Wall MB, Ertl N, Phylactou M, et al. Melanocortin 4 receptor agonism enhances sexual brain processing in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. J Clin Invest. 2022;132(19):e152341.
  6. Borland JM, Kohut-Jackson AL, Peyla AC, Hall MA, Mermelstein PG, Meisel RL. Female Syrian hamster analyses of bremelanotide, a US FDA approved drug for the treatment of female hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Neuropharmacology. 2025;267:110299.
  7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed. Bremelanotide Injection — US Prescribing Information (structured product label). 2019.
  8. Clayton AH, Kingsberg SA, Goldstein I. Evaluation and Management of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. Sex Med. 2018;6(2):59-74.
  9. Mintzes B, Tiefer L, Cosgrove L. Bremelanotide and flibanserin for low sexual desire in women: the fallacy of regulatory precedent. Drug Ther Bull. 2021;59(12):185-188.
  10. Hedlund P. PT-141 Palatin. Curr Opin Investig Drugs. 2004;5(4):456-462.
  11. Miller MK, Smith JR, Norman JJ, Clayton AH. Expert opinion on existing and developing drugs to treat female sexual dysfunction. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs. 2018;23(3):223-230.
  12. King SH, Mayorov AV, Balse-Srinivasan P, Hruby VJ, Vanderah TW, Wessells H. Melanocortin receptors, melanotropic peptides and penile erection. Curr Top Med Chem. 2007;7(11):1098-1106.
  13. Nelson ME, Bryant SM, Aks SE. Melanotan II injection resulting in systemic toxicity and rhabdomyolysis. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2012;50(10):1169-1173.