Melanotan I vs AHK-Cu
Side-by-side comparison of Melanotan I and AHK-Cu: mechanism, half-life, dose range, safety profile, and vendor pricing.
Price snapshot
Melanotan I
AHK-Cu
Melanotan I
Melanotan I (afamelanotide) is a linear synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) with the substitution of norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7. Unlike Melanotan II (which is…
Lowest listed price: $35.00 across 4 listings
Full Melanotan I profileAHK-Cu
AHK-Cu (Ala-His-Lys-Copper) is a copper chelating tripeptide related to but distinct from GHK-Cu (Gly-His-Lys-Copper). Where GHK-Cu is the most-studied copper peptide and naturally occurs in human plasma, AHK-Cu is a…
Lowest listed price: $44.99 across 5 listings
Full AHK-Cu profileSide-by-side comparison
| Attribute | Melanotan I | AHK-Cu |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Other | Skin & Hair |
| Research Stage | FDA Approved | Preclinical |
| Mechanism of Action | Melanotan I is afamelanotide, i.e. [Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH ('NDP-alpha-MSH'), a synthetic 13-amino-acid analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. The Nle4 and D-Phe7 substitutions make it resistant to enzymatic breakdown and roughly 10-100x more potent… | AHK-Cu delivers bioavailable copper ions to follicular and dermal tissues. Copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen/elastin crosslinking), superoxide dismutase (antioxidant), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. The tripeptide… |
| Half-Life | Controlled-release subcutaneous implant (Scenesse): high inter-subject variability; median Tmax ~36 h, mean Cmax ~3.7 ng/mL, apparent terminal half-life ~15 h, with plasma levels measurable to ~96 h post-dose (FDA pharmacokinetics, n=12). Injected/bolus free peptide: peak plasma at ~1-2 h with an elimination half-life of ~30 minutes; the Nle4/D-Phe7 modifications prolong biological (melanogenic) activity well beyond plasma clearance. | Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized) |
| Typical Dose Range | 16 mg | — |
| Dosing Frequency | every_1_to_4_weeks | once_daily |
| Administration | Subcutaneous, Intramuscular | Topical, Subcutaneous, Intradermal |
| Side Effects | Generally mild. Commonly reported: transient nausea (usually milder and less frequent than with Melanotan II), facial flushing, headache, fatigue, and skin hyperpigmentation including darkening of existing moles, freckles and nevi. Implant-site reactions occur… | — |
| Molecular Weight | 1646.85 g/mol (average; molecular formula C78H111N21O19) | Free peptide (AHK): 354.41 Da (C15H26N6O4). Copper complex (AHK-Cu): 415.9 Da (C15H24CuN6O4, neutral 1:1 Cu(II) complex - Cu(II) displaces two protons from the tripeptide ligand). |
| Common Vial Sizes | 5, 10 | 50, 100 |
Price History
2 data points- Ion Peptide
- Disguised Alpha
Price History
2 data points- Ion Peptide
- Disguised Alpha
Melanotan I: potential benefits
- Increased melanin (eumelanin) production and skin darkening via MC1R activation, with a reduced UV requirement
- FDA-approved photoprotection in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) as the Scenesse 16 mg subcutaneous implant [PMID:26132941]
- Reduced phototoxic pain and improved quality of life in EPP patients in randomized controlled trials [PMID:26132941]
- Tends to produce fewer MC4R-type effects (spontaneous erections, strong libido, marked nausea) than the cyclic Melanotan II - attributable to Melanotan II's greater potency and metabolic stability, not to true MC1R selectivity of Melanotan I
- Investigated in research settings for photoprotection in UV-sensitive populations
AHK-Cu: potential benefits
- Hair follicle stimulation — activates anagen phase via Wnt/β-catenin in dermal papilla cells
- Reduction of follicle miniaturization in androgenetic alopecia models
- Enhanced scalp vascularity via VEGF upregulation
- Wound healing acceleration — copper cofactor for lysyl oxidase and collagen maturation
- Synergistic with GHK-Cu in multi-peptide scalp formulations
Frequently asked
What's the difference between Melanotan I and AHK-Cu?
Melanotan I is a other that melanotan i is afamelanotide, i.e. [nle4, d-phe7]-alpha-msh ('ndp-alpha-msh'), a synthetic 13-amino-acid analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. the nle4 and d-phe7…. AHK-Cu is a skin & hair that ahk-cu delivers bioavailable copper ions to follicular and dermal tissues. copper acts as a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen/elastin crosslinking), superoxide dismutase…. The two differ in mechanism, half-life (Controlled-release subcutaneous implant (Scenesse): high inter-subject variability; median Tmax ~36 h, mean Cmax ~3.7 ng/mL, apparent terminal half-life ~15 h, with plasma levels measurable to ~96 h post-dose (FDA pharmacokinetics, n=12). Injected/bolus free peptide: peak plasma at ~1-2 h with an elimination half-life of ~30 minutes; the Nle4/D-Phe7 modifications prolong biological (melanogenic) activity well beyond plasma clearance. vs Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized)), and typical dose range.
Which has the longer half-life, Melanotan I or AHK-Cu?
Melanotan I has a half-life of Controlled-release subcutaneous implant (Scenesse): high inter-subject variability; median Tmax ~36 h, mean Cmax ~3.7 ng/mL, apparent terminal half-life ~15 h, with plasma levels measurable to ~96 h post-dose (FDA pharmacokinetics, n=12). Injected/bolus free peptide: peak plasma at ~1-2 h with an elimination half-life of ~30 minutes; the Nle4/D-Phe7 modifications prolong biological (melanogenic) activity well beyond plasma clearance.. AHK-Cu has a half-life of Unknown (topical half-life, follicular retention not well characterized). Longer half-lives generally mean less frequent dosing but slower on/off kinetics.
Which is cheaper, Melanotan I or AHK-Cu?
Lowest listed price on BodyHackGuide: Melanotan I from $35.00, AHK-Cu from $44.99. Prices are pulled from the vendor listings tracked on BHG and change frequently. See the compare tables on each compound page for the current set of offers.
Can you stack Melanotan I and AHK-Cu?
Stacking depends on mechanism overlap, safety profile, and goals. Melanotan I and AHK-Cu should only be stacked after reviewing each compound's individual protocol page, side effect profile, and any published interaction data. Use the BodyHackGuide stack builder for a structured review before combining research compounds.
See current vendor prices
Listings from the vendors we track. Prices change often, so check the vendor before you buy.
Before you buy Melanotan I or AHK-Cu
Check the vendor trust score. Every supplier we track is rated 0-100 on COA verification, payment transparency, shipping, reviews, and listings: one published, reproducible methodology, applied to every vendor.
Related comparisons
Research use only. BodyHackGuide is a research and price-comparison reference. The compounds discussed on this page are not approved by the FDA for human consumption and are sold strictly for laboratory research. Prices shown are pulled from vendor listings tracked on BHG and are subject to change. We earn an affiliate commission on some outbound clicks, and every vendor is ranked on the same public, reproducible methodology. See editorial standards and affiliate disclosure.