Clinical / Pharmaceutical

Melanotan 1

Afamelanotide · Scenesse · NDP-MSH · [Nle4, D-Phe7]-α-MSH · MT-1

Melanotan I (Afamelanotide / Scenesse) is a highly purified, synthetic linear analogue of naturally occurring alpha-MSH. Unlike the illicit and highly unselective Melanotan II, MT-1 is an FDA and EMA approved pharmaceutical. It is deployed clinically to aggressively shield patients with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP) from catastrophic phototoxicity by forcing the intense, systemic production of protective photopigments, inducing a deep, natural tan without the need for UV trauma.

Not FDA-approved - research chemical

Reviewed by CalcMyPeptide Editorial Team

·Last updated: August 2026·Evidence: Moderate·1 peer-reviewed citation

Typical research dose

16 mg implant (sub-dermal, every 60 days)

Frequency

Every 60 days (implant)

Half-life

~30-45 minutes (longer in depot form)

Common vials

N/A (oral)

CAS

75921-69-6

Molecular weight

1646.9 g/mol

Use-case scores

0–10 against the evidence we have, not a gym ranking. Hidden domains do not apply here.

Skin / cosmetic4/10
Afamelanotide (Scenesse) is approved for EPP as an implant. A research-chem MT-1 vial is not that product. Score the chemistry class, then haircut the SKU.

Compound card

Class: Afamelanotide analog class (Scenesse is the labeled implant, not this cake)
Formula: C78H111N21O19
Status: Not FDA-approved · research use

How it works

Melanotan-1 (Afamelanotide, Scenesse) is a synthetic 13-amino-acid analog of naturally occurring α-MSH. It was developed at the University of Arizona to provide a sunless tanning effect to protect against UV radiation and skin cancer. Unlike Melanotan-2, it is a linear (not cyclic) full-length analog.

Mechanistically, MT-1 binds to melanocortin-1 receptors (MC1R) with much higher affinity and an exponentially longer half-life than natural α-MSH. This binding stimulates melanocytes to ramp up production of eumelanin (the dark protective pigment). Importantly, MT-1 is highly selective to MC1R in the skin, generally avoiding the MC3R/MC4R receptors that cause the intense libido enhancement and nausea associated with Melanotan-2.

Source: PMID: 19706843

Background & History

Melanotan 1 (afamelanotide) was developed at the University of Arizona in the 1980s as part of research into α-MSH analogues for photoprotection. Unlike Melanotan II (a cyclic heptapeptide with broad melanocortin receptor activity), MT-1 is a linear tridecapeptide selective for MC1R. It was approved by the EMA in 2014 and FDA in 2019 as Scenesse (a 16 mg sub-dermal implant) for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), an inherited condition causing severe photosensitivity.

Research Use Cases

✓Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP)
✓Photoprotection research
✓Skin cancer prevention research

Dosing

Phase	Dose	Frequency	Notes
Medical (FDA-approved)	16 mg implant	Subcutaneous implant every 2 months	FDA-approved (Scenesse) for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP).
Off-label / Cosmetic	0.5 - 1 mg	Daily SC until desired pigment, then maintenance 1-2x per week.	Requires UV exposure (sun or tanning bed) to actualize pigment synthesis effectively.

Administration

Route / form

Subcutaneous injection

Timing

Prior to UV exposure for best results.

Empty stomach?

No - Food timing is not critical.

Timeline

Week 1-2

Loading phase. Melanin production increases. Pigment darkening visible with UV exposure.

Week 3+

Deep, sustained photoprotective tan. Moles/freckles will darken significantly.

Who it is for

Photoprotection / EPP

High

FDA approved as Scenesse for Erythropoietic protoporphyria, granting patients extreme UV tolerance.

Cosmetic Tanning

High

Highly effective safe sunless/low-sun tan. Much lower side-effect profile than MT-2.

Safety & Considerations

FDA-approved as Scenesse implant. Injectable MT-1 is well-tolerated. Will darken existing moles, freckles, and nevi heavily. Nausea is possible but much rarer than MT-2. No spontaneous erections/libido effects like MT-2.

Regulatory & Legal Status

FDA Status (US)

Research Only

WADA Status (2026)

Not Listed

Not currently on the WADA 2026 Prohibited List. Policies may change - verify before competition.

Classification

Research Chemical

US Compounding: Not eligible / not available

⚠️ This information is for educational purposes only and may not reflect the most current regulatory updates. Always verify with official FDA, WADA, and jurisdiction-specific sources before use.

Limits of current evidence

Do not print Scenesse photoprotection percentages onto a SubQ research vial.
EPP is a hematology indication, not a beach protocol.

Verdict

Melanotan-1 is the linear α-MSH analog people confuse with Scenesse. Scenesse is a 16 mg implant for erythropoietic protoporphyria. This leaf is the research cake. Not a tanning salon drug.

Interactions & Contraindications

Monitor pre-existing nevi for changes. May darken existing moles. Not for use with phototherapy. No significant drug interactions reported at approved doses.

Synergies & Common Stacks

+ Melanotan 2 →

MT-1 and MT-2 both stimulate melanogenesis but through different receptor selectivity profiles. MT-1 is the clinically approved, selective compound; MT-2 is the broader-acting research peptide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Melanotan-1 safer than Melanotan-2?▼

Generally yes. MT-1 is an FDA-approved molecule (Scenesse). It is highly selective for the skin MC1R receptor and avoids the brain MC4R receptors that cause the intense nausea, flushing, and spontaneous erections seen with MT-2.

Do you still need sun to tan on MT-1?▼

Yes. MT-1 upregulates the melanocytes and primes the melanin synthesis pathways, but a small amount of UV radiation is still the catalyst required to significantly darken the skin.

References

Langendonk JG et al. “"Afamelanotide for erythropoietic protoporphyria".” NEJM (2015). PMID: 26132941

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