Melanotan 1 (Afamelanotide)
Approved as SCENESSE (afamelanotide) — a subcutaneous implant to increase pain-free light exposure in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), FDA approval Oct 8, 2019.
Melanotan 1 and the FDA-approved drug afamelanotide are the same molecule — a synthetic, metabolically stabilized analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It binds and activates the melanocor...
Sequence
Mechanism of Action
Melanotan 1 and the FDA-approved drug afamelanotide are the same molecule — a synthetic, metabolically stabilized analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It binds and activates the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) on melanocytes, stimulating eumelanin production independent of ultraviolet exposure. In erythropoietic protoporphyria, the resulting increase in skin melanin raises the threshold for the painful phototoxic reactions caused by circulating protoporphyrin IX.