Melanotan 1 (MT1) – 10mg (3ml Pen)

Melanotan 1 — afamelanotide — is the selective counterpart to MT2, and has taken a very different path. Where MT2's profile is non-selective and its literature informal, MT1 has high MC1R selectivity and completed a full clinical development programme, obtaining regulatory approval for a rare light-sensitivity condition. That gives it publicly documented trial data uncommon in this category.

Afamelanotide is a linear tridecapeptide analogue of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone with substitutions conferring increased potency and resistance to degradation. Research describes selective agonism at MC1R on melanocytes, activating adenylate cyclase and upregulating tyrosinase to increase eumelanin synthesis. Studies document the resulting photoprotective effect as the basis for its clinical investigation. Selectivity for MC1R over MC3R and MC4R is reported as considerably greater than that of the cyclic analogue, with correspondingly less appetite-related activity.

A mature and formally documented evidence base including randomised controlled trials, post-approval registry data and regulatory review documentation in a rare disease indication.

Clinical trials

Randomised controlled research in erythropoietic protoporphyria populations.

Photoprotection research

Studies on eumelanin synthesis and light tolerance endpoints.

Receptor selectivity

Characterisation of MC1R selectivity relative to other melanocortin subtypes.

Registry data

Post-approval observational data collected in European patient registries.

Regulatory record

Full clinical development documentation is publicly available.