The History of PT-141

The discovery of the sexual health properties of PT-141 came about incidentally. In the 1980s, a team of scientists set out to create melanotropic peptides for use as tanning agents. The goal was to create a product that could help people achieve a tan without prolonged sun exposure, which is a risk for skin cancer.

During the developmental phase of this tanning agent, scientists accidentally administered a dose of the drug that was double of what was intended. The result was, surprisingly, an instant and enduring erection. The person who received this drug testified, “I had an unrelenting erection (about 8 h duration) which could not be subdued even with a cold pack.”

It was at that moment that scientists were alerted to the possibility of using the drug to treat sexual dysfunction. Although having an erection is desirable, nobody wants one that lasts for hours on end. The scientists then experimented with lowering the drug dose, again and again, until it could create an erection only upon sexual arousal (instead of an instant erection regardless of sexual stimuli).

Therefore, an individual who takes this drug may always ready for a sexual encounter. According to the scientists researching this drug, this means “no guess work” and that “you do not have to first engage in a sexual endeavor and hope for the best.”

The incidental discovery of the properties of PT-141 mirrors that of many revolutionary drugs in the past. By keeping an open mind, scientists managed to stumble across a potent drug that boosts sexual performance in a completely new way.

Reference

Hadley ME. Discovery that a melanocortin regulates sexual functions in male and female humans. Peptides. 2005;26(10):1687-1689. doi:10.1016/j.peptides.2005.01.023