MT-1 (Melanotan I)

Melanotan I is generally described in the literature as the same molecule as afamelanotide, marketed as Scenesse — FDA-approved in 2019 for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a rare genetic condition causing severe pain on sun exposure. This gives it real, large-scale, peer-reviewed human trial data — a different evidence tier than most compounds in this batch.

Two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trials (16mg subcutaneous implant): the US trial found significantly longer pain-free time after sun exposure at 6 months (median 69.4 hours vs. 40.8 hours on placebo); the EU trial found similar results at 9 months, plus fewer phototoxic reactions. Langendonk & Balwani et al., N Engl J Med, 2015 An earlier controlled human skin study found afamelanotide increased epidermal melanin density by roughly 41% and reduced UV-induced DNA damage in skin cells by approximately 59% (specific citation not independently re-verified in this pass).

The FDA-approved formulation is a 16mg subcutaneous implant, not a self-administered injectable — a meaningfully different delivery method than most compounds in this category.

Across trial reporting: nausea in roughly 31% of participants, injection/implant-site reactions in roughly 22%, headache in roughly 18% (figures from Phase III JAMA Dermatology-associated reporting, not independently re-verified against the primary paper in this pass). Worth noting these come from the approved implant formulation, not necessarily from other administration routes sold in the research-chemical market.