--- title: "Melanotan I vs AHK-Cu: Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)" url: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare/melanotan-i-vs-ahk-cu description: "Compare Melanotan I vs AHK-Cu side by side. We earn a commission on some vendor links. Mechanism, half-life, dose range, side effects and prices." lang: en --- Skip to content Compare notes on r/BodyHackGuide (https://reddit.com/r/bodyhackguide) Compare notes with other researchers. Join r/BodyHackGuide (https://reddit.com/r/bodyhackguide) # 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. Melanotan I from $35.00 AHK-Cu from $44.99 ## Price snapshot ### Melanotan I Current low $35.00 current listings 7-day low — not enough history yet 30-day low — not enough history yet 30-day change — not enough history yet ### AHK-Cu Current low $44.99 current listings 7-day low — not enough history yet 30-day low — not enough history yet 30-day change — not enough history yet ## 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 profile (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/melanotan-i) ## AHK-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 profile (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/ahk-cu) ## Side-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. Melanotan I prices: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/melanotan-i?tab=prices AHK-Cu prices: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compound/ahk-cu?tab=prices Compare all compounds: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare ### 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. View Vendor Scorecard (https://www.bodyhackguide.co/vendors/scorecard) ## Related comparisons Melanotan I vs Melanotan Ii: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare/melanotan-i-vs-melanotan-ii GHK CU vs AHK CU: https://www.bodyhackguide.co/compare/ghk-cu-vs-ahk-cu **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. 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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). 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