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    Melanotan I

    OtherFDA Approved

    Also known as: Afamelanotide, CUV1647, Scenesse, alpha-MSH analog, [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH (linear)

    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 cyclic), Melanotan I is a linear peptide that is significantly more selective for MC1R over MC4R — making it a tanning/photoprotective agent with substantially less sexual and appetite-stimulating side effects.

    Ion Peptide logo

    Lowest price per mg

    $3.50/mg$35.00 for 10mg

    at Ion Peptide · · median $3.50/mg

    Half-life: Controlled-release subcutaneous implant (Scenesse): high inte…Route: Subcutaneous, IntramuscularMW: 1646.85 g/mol (average
    Last reviewed:

    Overview

    At A Glance

    Mechanism

    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 than native alpha-MS…

    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.
    Dosing
    every 1 to 4 weeks
    Dose Range
    16 mg
    Routes
    SubcutaneousIntramuscular
    Common Vials
    5mg10mg
    Potential Benefits
    Increased melanin (eumelanin) production and skin darkening via MC1R activation, with a reduced UV requirementFDA-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 IInvestigated in research settings for photoprotection in UV-sensitive populations
    Safety Notes
    Common
    Nausea (typically milder and less frequent than with Melanotan II)Facial flushingHeadacheFatigueSkin hyperpigmentation; darkening of existing moles, freckles and nevi
    Serious
    Darkening or change in appearance of moles/nevi - requires baseline and periodic full-skin dermatologic monitoringLong-term safety of chronic melanocortin stimulation, including any effect on melanoma risk, is not establishedIn the pivotal EPP implant trials serious adverse events were not considered drug-related [PMID:26132941]

    Overview

    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 cyclic), Melanotan I is a linear peptide that is significantly more selective for MC1R over MC4R — making it a tanning/photoprotective agent with substantially less sexual and appetite-stimulating side effects. Afamelanotide was FDA-approved in October 2019 under the brand name Scenesse as an implant for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a rare photosensitivity disorder. Melanotan I is meaningfully different from Melanotan II in structure, selectivity, and side-effect profile and should not be confused with it.

    Chemical Information

    IUPAC Name

    Not yet available

    CAS Number

    Not yet available

    Molecular Formula

    Not yet available

    Molecular Mass

    1646.85 Da (C78H111N21O19; PubChem CID 16197727)

    Amino Acid Sequence

    Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH2 ([Nle4, D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH / NDP-alpha-MSH; 13-residue analog of alpha-MSH, N-acetylated with a C-terminal amide)

    Dosing & Protocols

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    • Common vial sizes

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    Research

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    • A summary of the key research
    • Safety and side effects
    • A link to the PubMed results

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    Interactions

    Interaction and contraindication data is being compiled for Melanotan I. Check back soon.

    General Safety Note

    Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before combining research compounds. Interactions may exist that are not yet documented.

    Best Price

    $35.00

    up to $54.99

    Best $/mg

    $3.5000

    Vendors

    2

    Listings

    4

    vial, nasal

    Dosage
    Form
    Sort
    Vendor Product Form Qty Price $/mg Coupon
    Disguised Alpha logo
    Disguised Alpha
    50
    🇺🇸US🇪🇺EU🇬🇧UK
    		 Melanotan 1 vial 1 vial● In Stock $39.99 — —
    Disguised Alpha logo
    Disguised Alpha
    50
    🇺🇸US🇪🇺EU🇬🇧UK
    		 MT-1 Aerosol Kit nasal aerosol kit● In Stock $54.99 — —
    Ion Peptide logo
    Ion Peptide
    70
    🇺🇸US🌍International
    		 Melanotan I 5mg vial 1 vial● Out of Stock $19.00 $3.80 —
    Ion Peptide logo
    Ion Peptide
    70
    🇺🇸US🌍International
    		 Melanotan I 10mg vial 1 vial● In Stock $35.00BEST $3.50 —

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    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

    Tracking since Apr 22, 2026 · 4 data points

    Price History

    2 data points

    Vendors Selling Melanotan I

    How we score these vendors

    Every supplier above is graded 0 to 100 on COA verification, payment transparency, shipping, reviews, and active listings. Methodology published, no pay-to-rank.

    View Scorecard

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    B7-33

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    t½ In vitro serum-stability half-life is approximately 6 minutes; B7-33 is rapidly degraded (a lipidated analog extended this to ~60 minutes in the same assay). Human in vivo pharmacokinetics are unpublished, and rapid clearance is expected for a small linear peptide (Praveen et al. 2023, PMID 37047588). 500-4000 mcg subcutaneous per injection (community/self-report research doses; most commonly ~1000 mcg / 1 mg once daily). No validated human dose exists - all figures are empirical extrapolations from rodent pharmacology.
    11 PubMedView Profile

    Diisopropylamine dichloroacetate (DADA)

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    DADA is the abbreviation the research chemical market uses for diisopropylamine dichloroacetate, the diisopropylamine salt of dichloroacetic acid, CAS 660-27-5.

    PreclinicalView Profile

    Indole-3-propionamide (IPAM)

    OtherPreclinical

    IPAM is the market abbreviation for indole-3-propionamide, the amide of indole-3-propionic acid and a close structural relative of melatonin.

    t½ Not established in humans; after intraperitoneal administration of 0.5 mg/kg to one-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, brain concentrations were 691 pg indole per mg protein at 2 h, 562 at 4 h and 361 at 8 h, which the authors described as a long half-life relative to melatonin (PMID: 20421998)
    PreclinicalView Profile

    Kisspeptin-10 (KSPTN)

    OtherClinical (investigational)

    KSPTN is the vendor shorthand for kisspeptin, a naturally occurring peptide encoded by the KISS1 gene and the master upstream regulator of the reproductive (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal) hormone axis.

    t½ Kisspeptin-10: very short, reported on the order of ~4 minutes (rapid plasma clearance). Kisspeptin-54 is longer-acting (tens of minutes). The brief half-life is why human studies dose it intravenously by bolus or continuous infusion. 20-100 mcg
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    t½ Unknown (no published PK data)
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    View Full Dosage Guide →

    Protocols, calculator & safety for Melanotan I

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    Lowest Price per mg

    Ion Peptide logo

    Ion Peptide

    $35.00($3.50/mg)

    2 vendors · 4 listings

    Research Score

    45

    0 PubMed results

    Quality Indicators

    Data Completeness

    63%
    Description
    Mechanism of Action
    Chemical Data
    Dosing Protocols
    Safety Profile
    PubMed Results
    Interactions
    Vendor Listings

    COA Verification

    0

    Verified COAs

    1

    Vendors w/ COA

    Latest test: 9/16/2026

    Quick Facts

    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.

    Molecular Weight

    1646.85 Da (C78H111N21O19; PubChem CID 16197727)

    Administration

    Subcutaneous, Intramuscular

    Trial Phase

    FDA Approved

    Safety Profile

    Common Side Effects

    • • Nausea (typically milder and less frequent than with Melanotan II)
    • • Facial flushing
    • • Headache
    • • Fatigue
    • • Skin hyperpigmentation; darkening of existing moles, freckles and nevi

    Research Disclaimer

    This information is for educational and research purposes only. Not intended as medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before use.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Melanotan I used for in research?

    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 cyclic), Melanotan I is a linear peptide that is significantly more selective for MC1R over MC4R — making it a tanning/photoprotective agent with substantially less sexual and appetite-stimulating side effects. Afamelanotide was FDA-approved in October 2019 under the brand name Scenesse as an implant for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a rare photosensitivity disorder. Melanotan I is meaningfully different from Melanotan II in structure, selectivity, and side-effect profile and should not be confused with it.

    What forms does Melanotan I come in?

    Melanotan I is available in vial, nasal forms.

    How do I compare Melanotan I vendors?

    Compare prices, payment methods, shipping, and COA scores across 2 vendors.

    How many vendors sell Melanotan I, and what does it cost per mg?

    2 of the vendors BodyHackGuide tracks list Melanotan I (4 listings). Among BodyHackGuide's Melanotan I listings recorded as in stock with a milligram count, the lowest price per milligram is $3.50/mg at Ion Peptide and the median is $3.50/mg. The Melanotan I prices on BodyHackGuide are vendors' listed prices as BodyHackGuide last recorded them, not transactions; the most recent recorded change to a Melanotan I listing is dated 7 September 2026.

    Which vendors have third-party COAs for Melanotan I on file at BodyHackGuide?

    BodyHackGuide holds 59 third-party certificate records for Melanotan I, from . No editor has read any of BodyHackGuide's 59 certificate records for Melanotan I. The laboratory named on BodyHackGuide's Melanotan I certificate records is Freedom Diagnostics Testing, and the newest test date on them is 2 October 2026. Each vendor page on BodyHackGuide shows how many certificate records BodyHackGuide holds for that vendor and links to each record that has its own page.

    Research Tools

    Related Compounds

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    Aminotadalafil

    OtherPreclinical

    Aminotadalafil is an unapproved research analog of tadalafil, the PDE5 inhibitor marketed under the brand name Cialis for erectile dysfunction and under Adcirca for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

    2.5 mg - 20 mg (oral)
    9 PubMedView Profile

    B7-33

    OtherPreclinical

    B7-33 is a single-chain, 26-amino-acid peptide engineered as a functionally selective agonist of the relaxin family peptide receptor 1 (RXFP1), designed to recapitulate the therapeutic activity of human H2 relaxin — the endogenous peptide hormone that is naturally elevated during pregnancy and has broad cardioprotective, vasodilatory, and anti-fibrotic effects.

    t½ In vitro serum-stability half-life is approximately 6 minutes; B7-33 is rapidly degraded (a lipidated analog extended this to ~60 minutes in the same assay). Human in vivo pharmacokinetics are unpublished, and rapid clearance is expected for a small linear peptide (Praveen et al. 2023, PMID 37047588). 500-4000 mcg subcutaneous per injection (community/self-report research doses; most commonly ~1000 mcg / 1 mg once daily). No validated human dose exists - all figures are empirical extrapolations from rodent pharmacology.
    11 PubMedView Profile

    Diisopropylamine dichloroacetate (DADA)

    OtherApproved (Japan)

    DADA is the abbreviation the research chemical market uses for diisopropylamine dichloroacetate, the diisopropylamine salt of dichloroacetic acid, CAS 660-27-5.

    PreclinicalView Profile

    Indole-3-propionamide (IPAM)

    OtherPreclinical

    IPAM is the market abbreviation for indole-3-propionamide, the amide of indole-3-propionic acid and a close structural relative of melatonin.

    t½ Not established in humans; after intraperitoneal administration of 0.5 mg/kg to one-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, brain concentrations were 691 pg indole per mg protein at 2 h, 562 at 4 h and 361 at 8 h, which the authors described as a long half-life relative to melatonin (PMID: 20421998)
    PreclinicalView Profile

    Kisspeptin-10 (KSPTN)

    OtherClinical (investigational)

    KSPTN is the vendor shorthand for kisspeptin, a naturally occurring peptide encoded by the KISS1 gene and the master upstream regulator of the reproductive (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal) hormone axis.

    t½ Kisspeptin-10: very short, reported on the order of ~4 minutes (rapid plasma clearance). Kisspeptin-54 is longer-acting (tens of minutes). The brief half-life is why human studies dose it intravenously by bolus or continuous infusion. 20-100 mcg
    PreclinicalView Profile

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    t½ Unknown (no published PK data)
    PreclinicalView Profile

    Side-by-Side Comparisons

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    Compare Melanotan I head-to-head: mechanism, half-life, dosing, safety, and vendor prices.

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