Melanotan-2 has been demonstrated in studies to decrease compulsive/addictive behaviors, increase sexual desire, and boost skin pigmentation through melanocyte activation.

In the 1980s, Melanotan-2 (MT-2) was created at the University of Arizona as a synthetic version of human alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). Inspired by α-MSH’s capacity to cause sexual excitation and skin darkening in mice, the original goal was to develop a sunless tanning substitute. But as studies went on, MT-2’s varied effects became clear. Enhancing sexual pleasure, increasing skin pigmentation, decreasing obsessive behavior, controlling addiction, reducing appetite, lowering glucagon production, and possibly even correcting some traits linked to autism are some of these.