Pigmentation and sexual health

Melanotan 1 / Afamelanotide
research guide

Melanotan 1 is a linear analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. The same molecule, afamelanotide, is approved in some jurisdictions as a subcutaneous implant for erythropoietic protoporphyria, a condition causing severe light-triggered skin pain, based on multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials [1]. Reign Peptide's Melanotan 1 vial is a separate research-chemical powder, not the approved implant, and is not evaluated for the approved indication or any tanning use.

Human studiesEditorial review: September 13, 2026

Evidence depends on population and formulation. Literature summary, not clinical peer review.

Looking for the product? Reign listings and business disclosure ↓

Jorge Abreu is not a doctor. This is an educational research summary, not a prescription or a personal dosing plan. Study results do not establish that a supplier product is safe or effective for people. Consult a licensed clinician about medical decisions.

01 · Start with identity

What is Melanotan 1 / Afamelanotide?

Afamelanotide, the approved drug, is manufactured and delivered as a 16mg subcutaneous implant placed by a clinician for a specific rare disease indication. Reign Peptide's Melanotan 1 is a lyophilized research-chemical powder of the same or closely related linear peptide sequence, intended by the seller for laboratory reconstitution, not the approved implant device, route, or indication; the two are not interchangeable products.

Also searched as: MT-1, Scenesse (afamelanotide implant), linear alpha-MSH analog

02 · Read the evidence

What the studies reported

01

Pivotal trials for erythropoietic protoporphyria

Two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria in the European Union and United States evaluated subcutaneous implants containing 16mg of afamelanotide, assessing reduction in phototoxic pain and improvement in quality of life compared with placebo. [1]

02

Trial population and endpoints

The pivotal trials enrolled a combined 168 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria across the European Union and United States sites, using patient-reported pain-free time in sunlight and quality-of-life measures as outcomes, in a design intended to support regulatory review of the implant for this specific rare disease. [1]

03

Approved indication and administration per FDA label

Per its FDA label, SCENESSE (afamelanotide) is indicated to increase pain-free light exposure in adult patients with a history of phototoxic reactions from erythropoietic protoporphyria, is a melanocortin 1 receptor agonist, must be administered by a trained healthcare professional as a subcutaneous implant containing 16mg of afamelanotide inserted above the anterior supra-iliac crest, and is contraindicated in patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity to afamelanotide or its excipients. [2]

03 · Numbers in context

What does dosing evidence actually support?

The clinical evidence available concerns the approved 16mg subcutaneous implant, administered periodically by a clinician to patients with a specific diagnosed photodermatosis, evaluated in randomized controlled trials with defined pain and quality-of-life endpoints [1]. This describes a clinician-administered implant for a defined rare disease population; it is not evidence for a self-reconstituted research powder used for tanning or any other unapproved purpose, and no such use was evaluated in the cited trials.

A study dose is not a personal dose. Population, route, formulation and supervision are part of the result. Online community schedules are not treated here as established clinical protocols.

04 · Safety and limits

What not to overlook

  • Melanotan 1 / afamelanotide's clinical trial evidence applies specifically to the approved 16mg implant in erythropoietic protoporphyria patients, not to research powder or tanning use.
  • Reign Peptide's product is a distinct research-chemical powder, not the approved implant; per the FDA label, SCENESSE must be administered by a trained healthcare professional using a specific cannula procedure, which the research powder does not replicate.
  • Melanocortin receptor agonists as a class have documented effects on appetite, mood, and pigmentation that were monitored in the trial population reviewed.
  • No trial data for self-injected research-vial use of Melanotan 1 for tanning purposes was identified in the sources reviewed.

05 · Product distinctions

Names are not interchangeable

The approved product, afamelanotide (brand Scenesse), is a controlled-release subcutaneous implant containing 16mg of the peptide, inserted by a healthcare provider. Reign Peptide's Melanotan 1 is a separate lyophilized powder vial (10mg) for laboratory research reconstitution; the implant and the research powder differ in manufacturing, release profile, and route, and no data reviewed here links them beyond sharing a related peptide sequence.

06 · Handling and storage

Follow validated product instructions

A single water volume, refrigerator temperature or expiry window cannot be assumed for every compound and formulation. Use the exact manufacturer documentation and a validated laboratory procedure. If stability, solvent compatibility or microbiological quality is not documented, those properties remain unverified.

Refrigeration, clear appearance and bacteriostatic water do not make an unverified research product suitable for injection. This guide does not provide a mixing or administration procedure.

The existing concentration calculator checks arithmetic only. It cannot choose a safe dose or establish compatibility, sterility or shelf life.

Reign Peptide · Business disclosure

Research product listings

Jorge Abreu is involved in Reign Peptide. Links to Reign are a business connection, not an independent endorsement. Reign lists these products for laboratory research, not human consumption.

Use the listing to check the labeled identity, amount and available batch documentation. A purity result alone does not verify sterility, clinical suitability or equivalence to a medicine used in a trial.

Names and sizes are product labels, not dosing recommendations. Confirm current details with the seller.

Supplies and accessories

Compare the actual specifications

Jorge's supply directory includes syringes, alcohol pads, storage cases, travel refrigeration and electrolytes, with separate links for the two travel refrigeration options. Accessory availability is not a recommendation to administer a research compound.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Alcohol pads

MED PRIDE, 70% isopropyl, 200 count per listing. An alcohol pad does not establish sterility of a research product.

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Peptide fridge case

Listing: 63 slots for 3mL bottles, bag only. An organizer is not active refrigeration or a validated storage system.

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Peptide travel case

Medineed travel case with temperature display and two ice packs per listing. Check dimensions and transport requirements.

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Questions still worth asking

What remains unresolved?

  • How does systemic exposure from a self-reconstituted injectable research powder compare to the controlled-release implant studied in the pivotal trials?
  • What pigmentation and tanning-specific effects, if any, has Melanotan 1 (as opposed to the cyclic Melanotan II) been shown to produce in controlled human studies?

Check the source

References and evidence scope

  1. Human trial · 2015Afamelanotide for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria ↗
  2. Official label · 2026SCENESSE (afamelanotide) implant, prescribing information ↗

These are the sources reviewed for this page, not an exhaustive systematic review. Related compound research is identified as such. Product links are not scientific references.

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