Afamelanotide
Approved medicineThe FDA has approved a version of this as a medicine, so it has been through large studies in people.
Also called Melanotan I / Melanotan 1 / Scenesse / NDP-alpha-MSH / MT-1
An approved prescription implant for a rare condition where sunlight causes severe pain.
Can a doctor prescribe this?
No. Pharmacies are not on record as being allowed to make this into a medicine.
The FDA has approved a version of this as a medicine.
Approved as Scenesse for a rare light-sensitivity condition. Prescription-only.
Official status: Not on the 503A bulks list. Checked 2026-08-04.
Lab suppliers we list: 10
Doses used in research
Taken word for word from the studies and trials listed on this page. This is not a recommendation and not a dose for anyone to take.
In human trials
16 mg
under the skin · for 9 months
Phase III Confirmatory Study in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP)PHASE3 · NCT00979745
“One 16mg subcutaneous implant every 2 months for 9 months..”
16 mg
under the skin · every 60 days · for 6 months
Phase II Confirmatory Study in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP)PHASE2 · NCT01097044
“One 16mg subcutaneous implant every 2 months for 6 months.”
16 mg
under the skin · for 6 months
Phase III Confirmatory Study in Erythropoietic ProtoporphyriaPHASE3 · NCT01605136
“One 16mg subcutaneous implant every 2 months for 6 months..”
16 mg
under the skin
Multicentre Phase III Erythropoietic Protoporphyria StudyPHASE3 · NCT04053270
“16mg subcutaneous implant.”
16 mg
Pharmacokinetics of Afamelanotide in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria PatientsPHASE1, PHASE2 · NCT06388642
“Afamelanotide 16mg implant.”
See source wording
every 28 days
Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Afamelanotide in Patients With Variegate Porphyria (VP)PHASE2 · NCT05854784
“Afamelanotide 16 MG.”
16 mg
under the skin · every 28 days · for 7-10 days
Afamelanotide and Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) Light in the Treatment of Nonsegmental VitiligoPHASE2 · NCT01382589
“NB-UVB phototherapy with or without subcutaneous, bioresorbable Afamelanotide 16 mg implants, contained in a poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) implant core released over 7-10 days following implantation.”
16 mg
Phase III Trial of CUV1647 in Polymorphic Light Eruption (PLE)Not stated · NCT00472901
“16mg implant”
16 mg
under the skin · every 60 days · for 24 months
Phase II AK Study in Organ Transplant PatientsPHASE2 · NCT00829192
“16 mg subcutaneous implant administered every 60 days.”
16 mg
under the skin · every 28 days · for 7-10 days
Afamelanotide and Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) Light in the Treatment of Nonsegmental Vitiligo (NSV)PHASE1 · NCT01430195
“NB-UVB phototherapy with or without subcutaneous, bioresorbable Afamelanotide 16 mg implants, contained in a poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) implant core released over 7-10 days following implantation Other Name: CUV1647.”
16 mg
Implant Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic StudyPHASE1 · NCT03634137
“One 16 mg bioresorbable afamelanotide implant (Group 1) from the previous manufacturing process..”
- A feasibility and safety study of afamelanotide in acute stroke patients - an open label, proof of concept, phase iia clinical trial.
Study in people
BMC neurology · 2023
- Investigation of the stability profile of therapeutic α-MSH analogue: Insights from liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry analysis of afamelanotide.
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis · 2026
- Changes in Oral Mucosa Associated with Melanotan II Injections: A Case Report.
Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
- Afamelanotide improves quality of life and light tolerance in Austrian erythropoietic protoporphyria patients.
Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG · 2026
- Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria with Persistent Severe Biochemical Abnormalities and a Non-Mutilating Clinical Course: A Case Report.
Reports (MDPI) · 2026
- Adjunctive use of Polypodium leucotomos extract in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria: An exploratory study.
Photochemistry and photobiology · 2026
- Heterochiral co-assembly of β-strands and hairpins affords stereocomplexed peptide hydrogels for drug delivery.
Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 2026
- [Hormones and skin pigmentation: fundamentals and clinical relevance].
Dermatologie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2026
- From darkness to light: Case report on afamelanotide-treatment in a 9-year-old child with erythropoietic protoporphyria.
JAAD case reports · 2026
- German Cohort Observational Study to Investigate the Short- and Long-Term Safety and Clinical Effectiveness of Afamelanotide 16 mg (SCENESSE) in Patients With Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP).
Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine · 2025
- Burden of illness and unmet needs in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria and X-linked protoporphyria: A large US nationwide claims analysis.
Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy · 2025
- New pharmacotherapies for the erythropoietic protoporphyrias: an analysis of trial protocols from a patient perspective.
Orphanet journal of rare diseases · 2025
- Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria with Persistent Severe Biochemical Abnormalities and a Non-Mutilating Clinical Course: A Case Report
Journal not recorded · 2025
- Erythropoietic protoporphyria in childhood: clinical clues, missed diagnoses and emerging therapy.
European journal of pediatrics · 2025
- Silica-Assisted Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (SiPPS).
Journal of peptide science : an official publication of the European Peptide Society · 2025
- Afamelanotide in managing cutaneous phototoxicity in erythropoietic protoporphyria: a Scottish perspective.
Clinical and experimental dermatology · 2025
- The Impact of Minimal Sunlight Exposure on Bone Health: Insights From a Cohort Study in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria.
Measured levels in people, no peptide given
The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2025
- The effects of cholecalciferol and afamelanotide on vitamin D levels in erythropoietic protoporphyria: a multicentre cohort study.
The British journal of dermatology · 2024
- Afamelanotide for Treatment of the Protoporphyrias: Impact on Quality of Life and Laboratory Parameters in a US Cohort.
Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024
- Vitamin D status in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria taking the systemic photoprotective agent afamelanotide.
The British journal of dermatology · 2024
- Discovery of MT-7117 (Dersimelagon Phosphoric Acid): A Novel, Potent, Selective, and Nonpeptidic Orally Available Melanocortin 1 Receptor Agonist.
Journal of medicinal chemistry · 2024
- Afamelanotide Is Associated with Dose-Dependent Protective Effect from Liver Damage Related to Erythropoietic Protoporphyria.
Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023
- Quality-Adjusted Life Years in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria and Other Rare Diseases: A Patient-Initiated EQ-5D Feasibility Study.
International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023
- Afamelanotide: An Orphan Drug with Potential for Broad Dermatologic Applications.
Journal of drugs in dermatology : JDD · 2021
- Structural insights into ligand recognition and activation of the melanocortin-4 receptor
Journal not recorded · 2021
- Insights into Tanning Biology and Tanning Products.
Review of earlier work
The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · 2026
- New and currently investigated pharmacotherapies for the erythropoietic protoporphyrias: spotlight on dersimelagon and bitopertin.
Review of earlier work
Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy · 2026
- Treatment Advances in Vitiligo: An Updated Review.
Review of earlier work
Dermatology practical & conceptual · 2025
- Afamelanotide in protoporphyria and other skin diseases: a review.
Review of earlier work
Postepy dermatologii i alergologii · 2024