The short version of peptide drug fits in a sentence. The long version — which is the one that helps — is below.
This page was last updated on 2025-08-31 and is reviewed periodically as new material appears.
PT-141 is the original development code for bremelanotide, a synthetic peptide first studied as a potential tanning and sexual-response agent in the 1990s. Researchers at a small American biotechnology firm designed it as a shortened analogue of melanotan II, which itself came from work on alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. Early screening focused on pigmentation, but behavioural observations in animal models redirected attention toward sexual motivation. That shift made PT-141 one of the first melanocortin compounds investigated specifically for effects on desire rather than on skin colour.
Clinical development proceeded through two routes of administration. An intranasal formulation advanced first, but variable absorption and tolerability problems led to a switch to subcutaneous injection. The United States Food and Drug Administration approved the subcutaneous product in 2019 for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. Marketing rights subsequently changed hands, and commercial availability has fluctuated since approval. Use in men, in postmenopausal women, and in combination with other agents remains outside the approved label.
The molecular backbone consists of seven amino acid residues joined into a ring through a disulfide bridge. This cyclic conformation is critical for receptor binding. The sequence includes an acetylated N-terminus and an amidated C-terminus, modifications that improve resistance to enzymatic breakdown. One residue is in the D-configuration, a feature that further stabilizes the peptide against protease activity. Together, the ring structure and specific stereochemistry determine selectivity among melanocortin receptor subtypes.
Across literature and commercial listings, the substance appears under several names, including bremelanotide, PT-141, and various brand designations. A CAS registry number provides a unique identifier for the compound, aiding retrieval from chemical databases. Synonym lists may also contain early development codes and descriptive chemical names. When consulting sources, researchers need to confirm that the cited names refer to the same molecular structure to avoid confusion. Naming consistency matters especially when comparing analytical data across publications.
PT-141 is a synthetic cyclic heptapeptide whose development code is bremelanotide. It belongs to the class of melanocortin receptor agonists and acts by mimicking endogenous peptide hormones. The compound originated from research on melanotan II, where investigators exploring derivatives found distinct pharmacological features. Unlike the parent compound, PT-141 showed effects on pathways related to sexual desire and function in early studies, prompting its development as a separate candidate. Its molecular design aimed to separate receptor activity from pigmentary effects.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C50H68N14O10 | Free base; the drug product is formulated as an acetate salt |
| Molar mass | About 1025 g/mol | Calculated for the free base |
| Appearance | White to off-white lyophilized powder | Typical form of research-grade material |
| CAS Registry Number | 189691-06-3 | Common listing for the free base |
| Typical storage | -20 °C, desiccated, protected from light | Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are best avoided |
Regulatory status varies by jurisdiction, where approved prescription products, compounded preparations and research-grade material are treated as distinct categories with different documentation requirements. Suppliers of research material commonly issue a certificate of analysis listing purity, identity and sometimes endotoxin content. Independent verification by a third-party laboratory is often recommended because self-reported figures are difficult to check. Literature discussions usually state the source, purity and storage conditions of the material used, since these details affect reproducibility. Analysts note that a reported purity figure does not by itself describe biological activity.
Lyophilised peptide is generally held below minus twenty degrees Celsius, protected from light and moisture, because hydrolysis and oxidation accumulate faster at ambient temperature. Once reconstituted, solutions are typically kept between two and eight degrees Celsius and used within a short window defined by the supplier. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are avoided since they promote aggregation and loss of soluble material. Container material matters as well, because peptides adsorb to certain plastics and glass surfaces at low concentration. Stability figures supplied by a vendor apply only to the specific lot and buffer that were tested.
Identity and purity are usually established with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. A gradient of water and acetonitrile containing trifluoroacetic acid is a common mobile phase, and ultraviolet detection near 214 nanometres responds to the peptide backbone. Mass spectrometry confirms the expected molecular mass and helps reveal truncation or oxidation products. Purity is reported as a peak-area percentage, a figure that depends on the wavelength and gradient used, so values from different laboratories are not always directly comparable. Peptide mapping and amino acid analysis provide additional confirmation when required.
== Metrology == There are many metrology standards and reference materials available for carbon nanotubes. For single-wall carbon nanotubes, ISO/TS 10868 describes a measurement method for the diameter, purity, and fraction of metallic nanotubes through optical absorption spectroscopy, while ISO/TS 10797 and ISO/TS 10798 establish methods to characterize the morphology and elemental composition of single-wall carbon nanotubes, using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy respectively, coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry analysis. NIST SRM 2483 is a soot of single-wall carbon nanotubes used as a reference material for elemental analysis, and was characterized using thermogravimetric analysis, prompt gamma activation analysis, induced neutron activation analysis, inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, resonant Raman scattering, UV-visible-near infrared fluorescence spectroscopy and absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The Canadian National Research Council also offers a certified reference material SWCNT-1 for elemental analysis using neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. NIST RM 8281 is a mixture of three lengths of single-wall carbon nanotube. For multiwall carbon nanotubes, ISO/TR 10929 identifies the basic properties and the content of impurities, while ISO/TS 11888 describes morphology using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, viscometry, and light scattering analysis.
=== 5 July === One person was killed in a Russian airstrike in Donetsk Oblast. In Russia, the governor of Rostov Oblast claimed that ten drones were shot down, causing a fire in Rostov-on-Don. The governor of Krasnodar Krai claimed that a child was killed in a drone attack in Primorsko-Akhtarsk.
=== Canada === In Canada, three-year college or technical school programs are offered that include seven semesters, two of them comprising an unpaid internship. The student graduates before taking a standard examination (such as the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science, or CSMLS, exam) to be qualified as a medical laboratory technologist. Many MLTs go on to Canada, which is currently experiencing an increasing problem with staffing shortages in medical laboratories.
== Pathophysiology of Skin Tension == Skin turgor is directly regulated by the volume of interstitial fluid and the structural integrity of the extracellular matrix within the dermal layer. Under normal physiological conditions, hydrostatic pressure within the capillaries pushes water into the surrounding tissue spaces, keeping the dermis plump and pressurized. When systemic fluid loss occurs, the body pulls water out of the interstitial spaces to maintain blood pressure and intravascular volume. This drop in interstitial fluid pressure strips the skin of its internal tension, causing the collagen and elastin fibers to lose their structural support and stick togetehr when deformed.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Histopathology == Although the exact cause of this condition is not known, it is an inflammatory disorder characterized by collagen degeneration, combined with a granulomatous response. It always involves the dermis diffusely, and sometimes also involves the deeper fat layer. Commonly, dermal blood vessels are thickened (Microangiopathy). It can be precipitated by local trauma, though it often occurs without any injury. As a metabolically driven skin disorder, the pathology is characterized by poor intracellular glucose utilization leading to metabolically stressed fibroblasts. Despite an increased GLUT-1 response, fibroblasts in NL fail to produce normal collagen, weakening and breaking down the skin's structure. Vascular impairments reduce oxygen and nutrient circulation, creating hypoxia and tissue breakdown.
Space Invaders, originally released for arcades in 1978, became a killer app when it was ported to the Atari VCS console in 1980, quadrupling sales of the three-year-old console. Star Raiders, released in 1980, was the first killer app computer game. BYTE named it the single most important reason for sales of Atari 400 and 800 computers. Another was Eastern Front (1941), released in 1981. In 1996, Computer Gaming World wrote that Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981) "sent AD&D fans scrambling to buy Apple IIs". The Famicom home port of Xevious is considered the console's first killer app, which caused system sales to jump by nearly 2 million units. Computer Gaming World stated that The Legend of Zelda on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Phantasy Star II on the Sega Genesis, and Far East of Eden for the NEC TurboGrafx-16 were killer apps for their consoles. The Super Mario, Final Fantasy, and Dragon Quest series were killer apps for Nintendo's Famicom and Super Famicom consoles in Japan. John Madden Football's popularity in 1990 helped the Genesis gain market share against the Super NES in North America. Sonic the Hedgehog, released in 1991, was hailed as a killer app as it revived sales of the three-year-old Genesis. Mortal Kombat helped pushed the sales of the Genesis due to being uncensored unlike the Nintendo version. Streets of Rage became a system seller for the Mega Drive/Genesis in the UK. Street Fighter II, originally released for arcades in 1991, became a system-seller for the Super NES when it was ported to the platform in 1992.
Iran warned it would hit all economic hubs in the Middle East, and any defensive European military involvement would be considered an act of war. On 4 March, US secretary of state Marco Rubio announced that the US-Israeli attacks on Iran would increase in intensity. Israel attacks hit the Basij headquarters. The IDF announced that an F-35I "Adir" shot down a Russian-made Iranian Yak-130 fighter jet over Tehran, the first time that an F-35 shot down a crewed fighter jet in air-to-air combat, and the first time the IAF shot down an aircraft since 1985. Iran launched strikes against the Al Udeid Air Base, and Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refining facility. The US ordered the evacuation of non-essential workers in Cyprus in anticipation of Iranian strikes. A ballistic missile launched from Iran was intercepted by NATO air defense systems as it entered Turkish airspace, marking an escalation in the conflict. Turkey asserted its right to self-defense after the missile landed in Dörtyol, Hatay Province, and NATO secretary general Mark Rutte stated that the alliance was committed to defending Turkey.
By the time of the 2023 election, Peña was considered a conservative politician who opposes the legalization of abortion and same-sex marriage. In May 2017, however, he had stated that he was in favor of same-sex marriage, while saying in regards of abortion that he was open for it to "be discussed in a sincere environment and without prejudice". He reversed position shortly afterwards following criticism from conservative sectors. During his 2023 campaign, he promised to create 500,000 jobs. He also ruled out raising taxes. On foreign policy, Peña pledged to maintain Paraguay's diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan). In May 2023, Peña announced that he intended to move the Paraguayan embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem after being sworn in as president; a move that was previously made by Horacio Cartes in 2018, but reversed by Mario Abdo Benítez later that year. Peña eventually attended the inauguration of said embassy in December 2024. Peña and his government expressed vocal support for Israel during the Gaza war and the Twelve-Day War, with Paraguay siding with Israel during South Africa's genocide case against Israel. As president, Paraguay restored diplomatic relations with Venezuela in November 2023; relations were strained since 2019. Relations between the two nations were broken again in February 2025, however, after Peña recognized Edmundo González as the winner of the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election. On the 2026 United States intervention in Venezuela, Peña stated that "it can only bring good news".
=== 21st century === About 89 percent of vehicular fuel needs are met by oil. Petroleum makes up 38 percent of total energy consumption in the United States, but is responsible for only 0.4 percent of electricity generation. Petroleum's worth as a portable, dense energy source powering the vast majority of vehicles and as the base of many industrial chemicals makes it one of the world's most important commodities. The top three oil-producing countries as of 2018 are the United States, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. In 2018, due in part to developments in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, the United States became the world's largest producer. About 80 percent of the world's readily accessible reserves are located in the Middle East, with 62.5 percent coming from the Arab five: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Qatar, and Kuwait. A large portion of the world's total oil exists as unconventional sources, such as bitumen in Athabasca oil sands and extra heavy oil in the Orinoco Belt. While significant volumes of oil are extracted from oil sands, particularly in Canada, logistical and technical hurdles remain, as oil extraction requires large amounts of heat and water, making its net energy content quite low relative to conventional crude oil. Thus, Canada's oil sands are not expected to provide more than a few million barrels per day in the foreseeable future. Many modern geopolitical conflicts are to do with petroleum.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
==== Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) ==== Civil Division Alexander Leonard Archer. For services to education and trade unionism. Thomas Bastain. For services to the trade union movement. Leroy Bowe. For services to the economic development of the country. Arlington Livingston Miller. For services as a public officer and a trade unionist.
== History == The natriuretic effects of progesterone were demonstrated in 1955, and the development of spironolactone as a synthetic antimineralocorticoid analogue of progesterone shortly followed this. Spironolactone was first synthesized in 1957, was patented between 1958 and 1961, and was first marketed, as an antimineralocorticoid, in 1959. Gynecomastia was first reported with spironolactone in 1962, and the antiandrogenic activity of the medication was first described in 1969. This shortly followed the discovery in 1967 that gynecomastia is an important and major side effect of AR antagonists. Spironolactone was first studied in the treatment of hirsutism in women in 1978. It has since become the most widely used antiandrogen for dermatological indications in women in the United States. Spironolactone was first studied as an antiandrogen in transgender women in 1986, and has since become widely adopted for this purpose as well, particularly in the United States where cyproterone acetate is not available. Early oral spironolactone tablets showed poor absorption. The formulation was eventually changed to a micronized formulation with particle sizes of less than 50 μg, which resulted in approximately 4-fold increased potency.
The UN later confirmed that Russia was planning to limit registration of ships to the port of Pivdennyi until all parties agreed to unblock the transit of Russian ammonia. The FSB said it had discovered an "intelligence action" that had compromised the phones of Russians as well as diplomats from Israel, Syria, China and NATO members and claimed that Apple had worked with US intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency in compromising numerous iPhones. Apple did not comment on whether its products in Russia had been hacked but denied working with authorities to compromise its devices. The Pentagon said that it would buy Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service for Ukraine to ensure the continued effectivity of communications in the country. The US State Department said it was revoking the visas of Russian nuclear inspectors, denying pending applications for new monitors and canceling standard clearances for Russian aircraft to enter US airspace in retaliation for Russia's suspension of its participation in the New START treaty. It also said it would no longer notify Russia of any updates on the status or location of "treaty-accountable items" like missiles and launchers. The Swiss National Council voted down, 98–75, a parliamentary initiative put forward by a committee that would have specifically authorized the transfer of Swiss-made arms to Ukraine. Its opponents claimed the proposal was a violation of the country's longstanding policy of neutrality.
Michael F. Holick ( HOLL-ik; born 1946) is an internationally prominent physician-scientist, and endocrinologist. He is a professor of medicine at the Boston University Medical Center and editor-in-chief of the journal Clinical Laboratory. As a result of controversies associated with his medical practice, he has been forbidden from treating patients at the Boston Medical Center since 2017.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
PT-141 is a research code for bremelanotide, a cyclic peptide that activates melanocortin receptors. It was developed for sexual dysfunction and later approved under a brand name as a subcutaneous injection. The same code is widely used by suppliers selling non-pharmaceutical material.
Both are synthetic melanocortin agonists and share a similar peptide backbone, but they are distinct molecules with different receptor profiles. Melanotan II was never approved as a medicine, whereas bremelanotide was. Findings about one compound should not be transferred to the other without direct evidence.
It is typically distributed as a lyophilized powder in sealed vials, sometimes with a separate solvent. Purity statements usually originate from the supplier rather than an independent laboratory. Storage recommendations vary between vendors, which makes comparison across sources difficult.
It belongs to the melanocortin receptor agonist family of peptides. Its cyclic structure distinguishes it from linear peptides and shapes its receptor binding profile.