Melanotan 1

What it is

Melanotan 1 is a synthetic version of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone with two changes that make it far more stable and potent. It was developed at the University of Arizona in the 1980s and is now made as afamelanotide.

How it works

It activates the MC1 receptor on melanocytes, increasing eumelanin, the dark pigment that protects skin from light damage, without needing sun exposure.

What the research shows

• In erythropoietic protoporphyria, a rare disorder causing painful reactions to light, afamelanotide implants increased the time patients could spend in sunlight (Langendonk et al., NEJM, 2015).

Regulatory status

FDA-approved in 2019 as Scenesse, a dissolving implant placed under the skin by a clinician, for adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria. Research-grade Melanotan 1 is not the approved product.

Storage and handling

Lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder is most stable sealed, dry and protected from light. Laboratory practice is to keep unopened vials frozen at about -20 °C for long-term storage, or refrigerated at 2 to 8 °C for shorter periods. After reconstitution, keep the solution refrigerated at 2 to 8 °C, avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles and use aseptic technique for every draw. Formal stability data in solution has not been published for most research peptides, so follow the supplier's label and certificate of analysis.

Reconstitution math

To work out concentration, volume and U-100 syringe units for any vial size, use the reconstitution calculator with Melanotan 1 selected. Always confirm the vial content against the label and the batch's certificate of analysis.

Key references

• Langendonk JG et al. Afamelanotide for erythropoietic protoporphyria. N Engl J Med. 2015.
• Search PubMed for Melanotan 1 studies
• Official drug labeling on DailyMed

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