Independent reference & toolkit 100 compounds graded · Last reviewed June 2026

Compare · Melanocortin

Melanotan II vs Setmelanotide

Both are melanocortin compounds. Here's how they line up on the evidence — graded the same way.

Melanotan IISetmelanotide
Evidence 6/10 10/10
ClassMelanocortinMelanocortin
SummaryA synthetic tanning peptide that does something, but is unapproved, unregulated, and tied to serious harms from priapism to melanoma case reports.An FDA-approved peptide for a handful of rare genetic and acquired forms of severe obesity, with no credible evidence for general weight loss.
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Melanotan II

Melanotan II is a man-made peptide sold online to darken skin (people call it "the tan jab"), curb appetite, and boost sex drive. No country has approved it as a drug, and the way people actually use it has never been put through a proper, controlled study.

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Setmelanotide

Setmelanotide, sold as Imcivree, is a prescription peptide used to treat a small number of rare, clearly defined forms of severe obesity. For those specific conditions, the evidence is genuinely strong. But step outside them — to general weight loss, fat loss, or "speeding up your metabolism" in…

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