Afamelanotide is a 13-amino-acid synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) with a molecular weight of approximately 1646.9 g/mol. It was FDA-approved in October 2019 (Scenesse) to increase pain-free light exposure in adults with a history of phototoxic reactions from erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). Afamelanotide is administered as a subcutaneous implant that releases the peptide over approximately 10 days, stimulating eumelanin production to provide photoprotection.
Category: Melanocortin Agonist. Evidence rating: A (strong human clinical data).
Clinical status: FDA-approved (Scenesse for EPP, October 2019); EMA-approved (2014)
Afamelanotide is a potent agonist of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) on melanocytes. It contains two key substitutions compared to native alpha-MSH: norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7, which confer increased binding affinity, resistance to enzymatic degradation, and a…
Safety considerations: Common (>=10%): implant site reaction, nausea, oropharyngeal pain, cough, fatigue, skin darkening (expected pharmacological effect); Skin darkening/tanning is an expected effect; darkening of pre-existing nevi and development of new nevi have been observed; dermatologic monitoring recommended; No evidence of melanoma causation in clinical trials or post-marketing surveillance, but theoretical concern exists due to melanocortin pathway activation; regular full-body skin examinations recommended.
Reviewed by the PeptideAtlas Editorial Team. Last reviewed: 2026-07-06.
Related peptides: Melanotan II.
Compare: Afamelanotide vs Melanotan II.
No. Afamelanotide (Melanotan I) is a 13-amino-acid linear analog of alpha-MSH selective for MC1R. Melanotan II is a shorter cyclic peptide with broader melanocortin receptor activity (MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, MC5R) and different side effects including sexual arousal and appetite suppression. Only afamelanotide (Scenesse) is an approved pharmaceutical product.
No. Afamelanotide is FDA-approved only for erythropoietic protoporphyria. Cosmetic tanning use is off-label and not supported by regulatory approval. Grey-market melanotan peptides used for tanning are unregulated and carry safety risks.
Scenesse is a 16 mg biodegradable implant placed subcutaneously above the iliac crest (hip area) by a healthcare provider every 2 months. It slowly releases afamelanotide over approximately 10 days, providing sustained eumelanin production.