merotocin

Merotocin is a synthetic peptidic agonist of the oxytocin receptor, derived from oxytocin. It was developed to provide potent and highly selective activation of the oxytocin receptor, with over 1000-fold selectivity compared to vasopressin receptors. Merotocin is under development by Ferring Pharmaceuticals for use in preterm mothers with lactation failure requiring lactation support and has reached phase II clinical trials for this indication. Its enhanced stability and selectivity are attributed to its unique peptide structure, which reduces off-target effects associated with traditional oxytocin therapies. Clinical studies indicate that merotocin effectively promotes lactation in postpartum women while exhibiting minimal transfer into breast milk, potentially minimizing risks to nursing infants[1][3][4][6].

Other names

N-(4-Sulfanylbutanoyl)-L-tyrosyl-L-isoleucyl-L-glutaminyl-L-asparaginyl-L-cysteinyl-N-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]glycyl-L-leucylglycinamide cyclic (1-5)-thioethercarba-1-(4-FBzlGly7)dOT