Melanotan 1 news and clinical trials

Researchers developed and evaluated MC1R-targeted radiopharmaceuticals using 203Pb and 212Pb for potential melanoma therapy. The study identified compound 9, a derivative of NDP-MSH, as having high binding affinity and low accumulation in healthy organs in mouse models.

Researchers studied the effects of a 16 mg subcutaneous afamelanotide implant on UVR-induced skin responses in 9 healthy humans. The study found that afamelanotide significantly decreased the UVR-erythema dose response and increased melanin density six days after administration.

Scientists found that the peptide NDP-MSH reduced depressive-like behaviors and neuroinflammation in a mouse model of depression. This therapeutic effect relies on activating the MC1R-cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in the prefrontal cortex.

Reviewers examined 151 randomized controlled trials for vitiligo published between 2013 and 2023. They found that several interventions, including implanted afamelanotide, improved clinical scores when added to phototherapy, but no systemic monotherapies were superior to their comparators.

Clinuvel Europe Limited completed a phase 1/2 trial to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of a 16mg afamelanotide implant in 28 adolescent and adult patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria. Results for the study, which ended January 20, 2025, were posted on July 27, 2026.

Researchers established an active immunization mouse model of THSD7A-associated membranous nephropathy to test the peptide NDP-MSH. Treatment with the agonist significantly reduced proteinuria and glomerular damage by inhibiting B cell differentiation and autoantibody production.

Researchers developed a peptide-based stereocomplexed hydrogel platform by co-assembling peptides of opposite chirality. This system allowed for slow, sustained release of the melanocortin agonist afamelanotide over several months.

A systematic literature review of sunless tanning agents reports that while agents like DHA and melanotan are in use, unregulated melanotan I and II can cause serious adverse effects including rhabdomyolysis, renal infarction, and priapism.

A narrative review of new pharmacotherapies for erythropoietic protoporphyria indicates that while dersimelagon and bitopertin show potential efficacy, their safety and effectiveness require further characterization compared to the currently approved treatment, afamelanotide.

This item is a published correction for a study on biodegradable polyurethane nerve conduits functionalized with NDP-MSH-loaded peptide hydrogels.

An analysis of 20 Austrian patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria treated with afamelanotide found that therapy improved quality of life scores and increased phototoxic burn tolerance time. The median burn tolerance time rose from 15 minutes to 250 minutes.

An exploratory study of eight adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria found that 480 mg oral Polypodium leucotomos extract daily improved quality of life on Day 60 for patients with persistent symptoms despite afamelanotide use. Six participants completed the 4 month study.

Researchers engineered a biodegradable nerve conduit functionalized with NDP-MSH-loaded peptide hydrogels to repair nerve defects in rats. The treatment successfully reduced apoptosis and achieved functional nerve repair outcomes comparable to autografts at 60 days.

A case report of a 32-year-old woman with Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria documents that initiation of afamelanotide therapy led to marked improvement in photosensitivity and burning pain without the need for transfusions or transplants.

New paper in Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis: Investigation of the stability profile of therapeutic α-MSH analogue: Insights from liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry analysis of afamelanotide.

Researchers published a case report regarding the use of afamelanotide for the treatment of a 9-year-old child diagnosed with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

A review article explains the role of melanocortins and the melanocortin 1 receptor in skin pigmentation. It notes that while afamelanotide and setmelanotide are approved for specific uses, non-licensed synthetic melanocortins are often used as unregulated lifestyle products.

Researchers analyzed 29 clinical trials for erythropoietic protoporphyria and found that 16 evaluated afamelanotide. The study concludes that trial designs lack direct comparability and recommends future trials assess new pharmacotherapies directly against afamelanotide.