- Also known as
- MT-I · MT1 · Melanotan 1 · afamelanotide · NDP-MSH · [Nle4, D-Phe7]-α-MSH
- Class
- Melanocortin-1 receptor agonist (linear alpha-MSH analogue)
- Form
- Lyophilised powder in 10 mg vials
- Sizes
- 10 mg
- Storage, dry
- −20 °C, dry and dark
- Storage, mixed
- 2–8 °C, use within 28 days of mixing (as generally reported for reconstituted peptides)
- BAC water per size
- 10 mg: 2 mL
- Molecular weight
- 1646.9 g/mol
What is Melanotan I?
The literature describes Melanotan I as melanocortin-1 receptor agonist (linear alpha-MSH analogue). Its molecular weight is 1646.9 g/mol. The name covers the same material written several ways in the literature, including MT-I, MT1 and Melanotan 1. Its sequence is recorded as Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH2; linear, unlike the cyclic Melanotan II. Published work on it is in rat, human and cell culture. One of the 8 studies listed below is a controlled trial in people. Borealis Peptides supplies it as lyophilised powder in 10 mg vials for in-vitro laboratory research. It is not authorized as a medicine and is not for use in any living subject.
What the research shows
| Study | Model | Dose used | Duration | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Langendonk JG et al.2015 · N Engl J Med · PMID 26132941 | Human, two randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trials in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EU n=74, US n=94) | Afamelanotide 16 mg subcutaneous implant (Scenesse formulation) or placebo, every 60 days | 180 days (US, 3 implants) and 270 days (EU, 5 implants) | Median pain-free time in direct sunlight was longer with afamelanotide (US 69.4 vs 40.8 hours, P=0.04; EU 6.0 vs 0.8 hours, P=0.005), and the EU trial recorded fewer phototoxic reactions (77 vs 146). Adverse events were mostly mild. |
| Lengweiler S et al.2015 · Skin Pharmacol Physiol · PMID 25402764 | Human, erythropoietic protoporphyria patients in phase II/III trials (n=26), antibody assay | Not stated in the abstract (afamelanotide, Scenesse) | Up to 6 years of exposure | A new ELISA found no anti-drug antibodies in 23 of 26 patients. Three had pre-existing immunoreactivity to afamelanotide and alpha-MSH, and their titres did not change during treatment. |
| Böhm M et al.2014 · J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol · PMID 22845050 | Human, phase II open-label pilot in acne vulgaris (n=3) | Afamelanotide 16 mg subcutaneous sustained-release resorbable implant | Assessed 56 days after the first implant | Total and inflammatory acne lesion counts fell in all 3 patients and quality-of-life scores improved. All 3 showed increased pigmentation, mainly on the face. |
| Biolcati G et al.2014 · Clin Exp Dermatol · PMID 24256215 | Cell culture (Hailey-Hailey lesion keratinocytes) plus human open-label pilot (n=2) | Patients: afamelanotide 16 mg subcutaneous sustained-release resorbable implant; cell dose not stated in the abstract | Assessed 30 and 60 days after the first implant | In lesion-derived keratinocytes, afamelanotide upregulated Nrf2 and restored defective proliferation. Both patients had 100% clearance of lesions at 60 days. |
| Lonati C et al.2021 · Peptides · PMID 33865932 | Rat, ex vivo lung perfusion after ischaemia/reperfusion or cardiac death (N=10 per protocol, 5 treated) | Not stated in the abstract (NDP-MSH given before lung procurement and during perfusion) | Not stated in the abstract | NDP-MSH lowered inflammatory mediators, leukocytes and lactate in perfusate, raised ATP in ischaemia/reperfusion lungs and improved vascular and airway measures in cardiac-death lungs. MC1R and MC5R were found in lung tissue. |
| Rennalls LP et al.2010 · Immunology · PMID 20074207 | Cell culture (human dendritic cells) | Not stated in the abstract | Not stated in the abstract | Dendritic cells expressed mRNA for all known melanocortin receptors. NDP-MSH reduced their ability to stimulate allogeneic T cells and lowered surface CD86, ICAM-1 and CD1a. |
| Jiang J et al.1995 · Pigment Cell Res · PMID 8789740 | Cell culture (17 human melanoma cell lines) | Not stated in the abstract | 72 hours, and 6 to 43 days in some lines | Only one melanotic line consistently raised tyrosinase activity. Cell numbers fell sharply in both melanotic and amelanotic lines, and growth inhibition persisted days after the peptide was removed. |
| Frändberg PA et al.1994 · Biochem Biophys Res Commun · PMID 8060302 | Cell culture (COS-7 cells expressing wild-type and mutant human MC1R) | Not applicable (receptor binding assay) | Not applicable | Single alanine mutations at Asp117 or His260 cut alpha-MSH binding affinity by 267-fold and 132-fold, while NDP-MSH affinity was unchanged, pointing to different attachment points for the two agonists. |
What these studies don't show: Controlled human data exists, but it is limited in scope. Trial populations are selected, endpoints are often surrogate measures rather than outcomes, and follow-up rarely runs long. Nothing here speaks to use outside the trial protocol. Knowing the vial holds what the label says is not the same as knowing the compound does anything.
Every study links to its PubMed record. See all Melanotan I studies in the research library →
Melanotan I price in Canada: 10mg vial
Buy Melanotan I in Canada in a 10mg vial and a starter kit. Prices are in Canadian dollars, you pay by Interac e-Transfer or bank transfer, and orders are shipped from Canadian stock.
| Size | Price | Per mg |
|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | $43.00 | $4.30/mg |
Starter kit
Is Melanotan I available in Canada?
No authorized melanotan-1 product exists in Canada. A Drug Product Database search for melanotan returns afamelanotide (SCENESSE, DIN 02569825), which is a different molecule. So no authorized Melanotan I product exists in Canada. Borealis Peptides supplies it as research material for in-vitro laboratory use only. How Health Canada treats research peptides →
Side effects reported in studies
The studies cited below report what they observed on tolerability, and those statements are reproduced as written. Human work of this size does not establish a safety profile.
Melanotan I FAQ
What is Melanotan I?
Chemically, Melanotan I is classed as melanocortin-1 receptor agonist (linear alpha-MSH analogue). The published work on it is in rat, human and cell culture. Borealis Peptides supplies it as lyophilised powder in 10 mg vials for in-vitro laboratory research. It is not a medicine and is not for use in humans or animals. Every reference here is listed with the model it ran in and the finding as published.
Where can I buy Melanotan I in Canada?
Borealis Peptides ships Melanotan I from Canadian stock to research and business addresses in Canada. It is held in 10 mg vials. Every batch is tested by HPLC and the certificate names the batch in your vial. Orders are accepted for laboratory research only.
Is Melanotan I legal in Canada?
No authorized melanotan-1 product exists in Canada. A Drug Product Database search for melanotan returns afamelanotide (SCENESSE, DIN 02569825), which is a different molecule. So no authorized Melanotan I product exists in Canada. Borealis Peptides supplies it as research material for in-vitro laboratory use only. Health Canada has said that "Research Use Only" labelling does not make a product legal to use in a person, so we treat it as a description of what the material is supplied for rather than a permission.
How much Melanotan I should I use?
There is none to give. Nothing on this site is a protocol, a schedule or a reconstitution volume. The amounts in the cited studies belong to those studies and to the models they ran in, and they are listed so the evidence can be weighed rather than taken on trust.
What human evidence is there for Melanotan I?
Of the 8 studies cited, one is a controlled trial in people and the rest are animal or cell work. Each row names its model, the amount used and what the authors reported, so the weight of each study can be judged directly rather than through a summary.
How is Melanotan I stored?
Unopened, keep it at −20 °C in the dark. In solution it is kept at 2–8 °C. Ambient transit does not harm the dry powder, which should be refrigerated once received. What degrades a lyophilised peptide is light and temperature cycling rather than transit time.
How is the purity of Melanotan I confirmed?
Every batch is tested by HPLC before it is sold, and the certificate refers to the batch in your vial rather than to the product in general. Keeping that batch number with your records is what makes an observation reproducible later. Certificates are available on request.
How does Melanotan I compare with Melanotan II and PT-141?
They are different compounds with different published records, and this site does not rank them. Melanotan II and PT-141 have 8 cited studies and 8 cited studies on their page against 8 here. Reading both tables, with the models each used, is the comparison worth making.
Compare with
Related compounds
Melanotan II
Non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist (cyclic alpha-MSH analogue)
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PT-141
Melanocortin receptor agonist (MC3R and MC4R; cyclic alpha-MSH analogue)
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GHK-Cu
Copper-binding tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys copper complex)
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KPV
Melanocortin-derived tripeptide (C-terminal fragment of α-MSH)
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