Afamelanotide
Also known as: SCENESSE, Melanotan I, NDP-MSH, CUV1647, Melanotan 1
Afamelanotide (also called SCENESSE or Melanotan I) is an FDA-approved α-MSH analog in the MC1R Agonist class. Afamelanotide is a synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone with two substitutions, norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7, which greatly increase potency and resistance to degradation relative to native alpha-MSH.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 75921-69-6
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 1646.9 g/mol
- Half-life
- ~30 minutes (plasma); ~15 h (from implant)
- FDA status
- Approved
- Evidence level
- FDA Approved
- Human dose established
- Yes
- Administration Route
- Subcutaneous implant
- Frequency
- Every 2 months
- Last updated
- Sep 6, 2026
- Reviewed
- Aug 30, 2026
- Targets
- MC1RMelanocytes
Vendor price snapshot
Each vendor counts once, at the median price per mg of its own listings; the typical range is the middle half of vendors. From public vendor listings collected between Dec 2025 and Sep 2026, so confirm the live price on the vendor site. Peptide Library does not sell peptides.
- Vendors listing this peptide
- 12
- Listed offers
- 12
- Median price per mg
- $4.00/mg
- Typical $3.87–$4.62/mg
Research summary
FDA-approved α-MSH analog implant (SCENESSE) to increase pain-free light exposure in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria. 16 mg subcutaneous implant every 2 months.
Peptide Library's Afamelanotide profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
Afamelanotide dosage chart
Afamelanotide, sold in the research market as melanotan-1, has an FDA-approved human dosage - but not in the form it is sold as in the peptide market. The approved product, Scenesse, is a 16 mg controlled-release implant inserted subcutaneously above the anterior supra-iliac crest every 2 months, for erythropoietic protoporphyria. There is no approved injectable melanotan-1 and no approved dose for tanning.
| Human dosing established | Yes |
|---|---|
| Studied dose range | 16 mg implant every 2 months |
| Route | Subcutaneous implant |
| Frequency | Every 2 months |
| Duration studied | Repeated during periods of sunlight exposure, per the label |
| Titration | None. The implant delivers a fixed 16 mg and is not titrated. |
| Evidence level | FDA Approved |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09-05 |
Research-reported dosing
Doses as studied, one row per regimen. Different trials used different regimens; they are listed separately rather than averaged.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDA label - Scenesse, erythropoietic protoporphyriaFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Adults with a history of phototoxic reactions from erythropoietic protoporphyria | 16 mg implant | Subcutaneous implant, above the anterior supra-iliac crest, inserted by a trained professional | Every 2 months | Per label | Increase in pain-free light exposure | SCENESSE (afamelanotide) implant - FDA prescribing information, DailyMed |
| NCT01605136 - phase 3 confirmatory study, results postedClinical trial · Phase 3 randomised trial with posted results | Patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (n=93) | Per trial protocol, implant | Subcutaneous implant | — | — | Pain-free sunlight exposure | NCT01605136 - Phase III Confirmatory Study in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria |
| NCT04053270 - multicentre phase 3, results postedClinical trial · Phase 3 trial with posted results | Patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (n=100) | Per trial protocol, implant | Subcutaneous implant | — | — | Light tolerance and quality of life | NCT04053270 - Multicentre Phase III Erythropoietic Protoporphyria Study |
| NCT04525157 - phase 2, vitiligo with NB-UVB, results postedClinical trial · Phase 2 trial with posted results | Patients with vitiligo (n=21) | Per trial protocol, implant | Subcutaneous implant | — | — | Repigmentation alongside narrow-band UVB phototherapy | NCT04525157 - Afamelanotide and Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B Phototherapy in Vitiligo |
Where sources disagree
- The approved dose is a controlled-release implant placed by a trained professional, releasing 16 mg over several days. Melanotan-1 sold as a lyophilised vial for daily self-injection is a different dosage form entirely, and the implant's 16 mg does not translate into a daily injectable dose.
- Every approved and trialled use is a medical one - erythropoietic protoporphyria, and in trials vitiligo and solar urticaria - in which increased pigmentation is the mechanism, not the goal. There is no approved dose for cosmetic tanning.
- Melanotan-1 (afamelanotide) and melanotan II are different molecules with different pharmacology and different evidence. Melanotan II has no approved product; conflating the two transfers an approval that does not exist for it.
Reconstitution
Common research vial sizes: 10 mg.
| Vial | Bacteriostatic water | Concentration | Per 0.01 mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | 2 mL | 5 mg/mL | 50 mcg per 0.01 mL |
These figures are arithmetic only — they convert a vial and a volume into a concentration. They are not a recommendation to take any dose.
Calculate reconstitution & dose →Handling & administration
- Reconstitution Guide
- Subcutaneous implant - no reconstitution needed
- Concentration Example
- 16 mg implant
- Timing Notes
- Subcutaneous implant inserted every 2 months
- Expected Onset
- Photoprotection effects typically seen within days to weeks
Sequence & molecular data
| Amino acid sequence | Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val |
|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C78H111N21O19 |
| Molecular weight | 1646.9 g/mol |
| CAS number | 75921-69-6 |
| Half-life | ~30 minutes (plasma); ~15 h (from implant) |
| Appearance | Subcutaneous implant |
| Formulation | Implant |
| PubChem CID | 16197727 |
| DrugBank | DB04931 |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Afamelanotide is a synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone with two substitutions, norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7, which greatly increase potency and resistance to degradation relative to native alpha-MSH. It is a potent agonist at the melanocortin-1 receptor on melanocytes, where Gs-coupled signalling raises cyclic AMP and induces microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, driving eumelanin synthesis. Because this occurs downstream of the receptor it does not require ultraviolet exposure to initiate pigmentation. In erythropoietic protoporphyria the resulting increase in eumelanin absorbs and scatters visible light, which is the wavelength range that provokes phototoxicity in that condition.
Origin
Synthetic [Nle4, D-Phe7]-α-MSH.
Targets
Studies
- Afamelanotide for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
- Afamelanotide in protoporphyria and other skin diseases: a review
- Afamelanotide: An Orphan Drug with Potential for Broad Dermatologic Applications
- Afamelanotide: A Review in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
- Afamelanotide (CUV1647) in dermal phototoxicity of erythropoietic protoporphyria
Regulatory & research status
Afamelanotide is an FDA-approved product for specific labelled indications. Approval does not extend to the research contexts described on this page, and approved products are prescription medicines.
| FDA status | Approved |
|---|---|
| Availability | Prescription-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Permitted |
| Library classification | FDA-Approved |
Benefits
Afamelanotide side effects
The effects below are drawn from Afamelanotide's prescribing information, which lists the full adverse-reaction data.
Side Effects
- Nausea
- Implant-site reactions
- Headache
- Hyperpigmentation
Storage & stability
Lyophilized (freeze-dried) peptide powder is far more stable than the reconstituted solution. Keep sealed vials cold, dry and away from light; long-term storage is typically frozen, with short-term refrigeration for vials in use.
Once reconstituted in bacteriostatic water, keep the solution refrigerated, avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles and agitation, and label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration. Discard any solution that turns cloudy or shows particulates.
Degradation rates differ by sequence: peptides containing methionine, cysteine, asparagine or glutamine are more prone to oxidation and deamidation, so shelf life after reconstitution is compound-specific rather than universal.
Cosmetic peptides in this library are formulated into topical products; follow the product label rather than the reconstitution guidance above.
Read the full guide: how to store peptides before and after reconstitution →
Source: Manning MC, Chou DK, Murphy BM, Payne RW, Katayama DS. Stability of protein pharmaceuticals: an update. Pharm Res. 2010;27(4):544–575. (PMID 20143256). General guidance for research handling; not product-specific instructions.
Afamelanotide: frequently asked questions
What is Afamelanotide?
FDA-approved α-MSH analog implant (SCENESSE) to increase pain-free light exposure in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria. 16 mg subcutaneous implant every 2 months.
How does Afamelanotide work?
Afamelanotide is a synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone with two substitutions, norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7, which greatly increase potency and resistance to degradation relative to native alpha-MSH. It is a potent agonist at the melanocortin-1 receptor on melanocytes, where Gs-coupled signalling raises cyclic AMP and induces microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, driving eumelanin synthesis.
Is Afamelanotide FDA approved?
Yes. Afamelanotide is approved by the FDA, and approved products are prescription medicines. Approval is always for specific indications studied in clinical trials, so an approved status does not mean the compound is approved for every use it is discussed for. Research-chemical material sold under the same name is not the approved product.
What is the half-life of Afamelanotide?
Reported half-life for Afamelanotide is ~30 minutes (plasma); ~15 h (from implant). Half-life describes how long the compound persists in circulation, not how long any effect lasts, and published figures vary with route of administration, formulation and the population studied.
What is the amino acid sequence of Afamelanotide?
Afamelanotide has the sequence Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val, giving a chain of 13 amino acids. Its molecular formula is C78H111N21O19.
Is Afamelanotide banned in sport?
Afamelanotide is recorded here as permitted in sport. Anti-doping status is revised annually, so athletes subject to testing should confirm against the current WADA Prohibited List before use.
References
- FDA label — SCENESSEExternal reference
- Afamelanotide for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria — N Engl J Med, 2015External reference
- Afamelanotide in protoporphyria and other skin diseases: a review — Postepy Dermatol Alergol, 2024External reference
- Afamelanotide: An Orphan Drug with Potential for Broad Dermatologic Applications — J Drugs Dermatol, 2021External reference
- Afamelanotide: A Review in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria — Am J Clin Dermatol, 2016External reference
- Afamelanotide (CUV1647) in dermal phototoxicity of erythropoietic protoporphyria — Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol, 2015External reference
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Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Sep 6, 2026 · Version 2
This Afamelanotide profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
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