Melanotan 1

What is Melanotan 1?
Melanotan 1, also known as afamelanotide or NDP-α-MSH, is a synthetic 13-amino-acid analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It contains two amino-acid substitutions that increase its activity and resistance to enzymatic degradation compared with naturally occurring alpha-MSH.

Research Interest
Melanotan 1 has been studied for its effects on melanin production, skin pigmentation, and responses to ultraviolet and visible-light exposure. Research has also evaluated afamelanotide in photodermatoses, particularly erythropoietic protoporphyria, where controlled clinical studies measured pain-free light exposure and quality of life.

Mechanism of Action
Melanotan 1 acts as an agonist at melanocortin receptors, with pigmentation-related effects primarily associated with activation of the melanocortin-1 receptor on melanocytes. MC1R signaling promotes eumelanin synthesis and influences pathways associated with pigmentation, antioxidant activity, DNA repair, and inflammatory regulation.

Current State of Research
Afamelanotide has been studied extensively in humans and is used in an approved sustained-release implant for adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria. Research-grade Melanotan 1 supplied as a lyophilized peptide is not the same finished formulation as the approved implant and should not be represented as clinically equivalent.