How is Melanotan-1 different from Melanotan-2?

Melanotan-1 is a linear peptide selective for MC1R, producing tanning without significant libido, appetite, or blood pressure effects. Melanotan-2 is a cyclic peptide that activates MC1R, MC3R, MC4R, and MC5R - causing tanning plus sexual arousal, appetite suppression, and potential blood pressure changes.

Is Melanotan-1 approved anywhere?

Yes. Under the brand name Scenesse (afamelanotide), it is approved by the EMA (Europe) and TGA (Australia) for preventing phototoxic reactions in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). FDA approval is also granted in the US for EPP.

Does Melanotan-1 require sun exposure to work?

Melanotan-1 stimulates melanin production independently of UV exposure, but moderate sunlight enhances and accelerates the melanogenesis response. It provides photoprotection by increasing eumelanin, the protective dark pigment, in the skin.

How is Melanotan-1 different from Melanotan-2?

MT-1 is a linear 13-amino-acid peptide that is relatively selective for MC1R (pigmentation). MT-2 is a cyclic 7-amino-acid peptide that hits all four melanocortin receptors non-selectively, which is why it produces appetite suppression, nausea, and central arousal effects that MT-1 largely avoids. MT-1 is also the only one that has been FDA/EMA-approved for any indication.

Does MT-1 work in people with fair skin or MC1R variants?

Yes. Afamelanotide's clinical trial program specifically tested it in populations carrying MC1R variant alleles (like Val60Leu, Arg151Cys, and Arg160Trp) that produce weak natural pigmentation. It was effective even in those genotypes, which is one of the reasons it was approved for EPP.

What does "UV-independent" pigmentation actually mean?

Normal tanning requires UV damage - your skin darkens as a response to DNA damage from sun exposure. MT-1 activates the same downstream pigmentation pathway (MC1R / cAMP / MITF / tyrosinase) directly at the receptor level, so pigment accumulates without the upstream DNA damage signal. The protective pigment is the same; only the trigger is different.

How should MT-1 be stored?

Keep the lyophilised powder frozen at −20 °C. After reconstitution with bacteriostatic water, refrigerate at 1-6 °C and protect from light. The linear structure is slightly more sensitive than cyclic MT-2, so prompt use after reconstitution is recommended.

Lyophilised · batch-documented · discreet packaging

>99% Purity // Janoshik Verified // MC1R Selective // EU/AU Approved

Melanotan

Name: Melanotan-1
Brand: New-U Research Peptides
SKU: melanotan-1
Availability: InStock

Afamelanotide // Scenesse // CAS 75921-69-6 // Linear α-MSH Analogue

The clinically approved photoprotective tanning peptide. MC1R-selective melanogenesis without systemic side effects.

Melanotan-1 (afamelanotide) is a linear synthetic analogue of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) that selectively activates MC1R receptors on skin melanocytes to stimulate natural melanin production. Approved in Europe and Australia as Scenesse for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), it delivers photoprotective tanning without the libido, appetite, or blood pressure effects associated with the cyclic Melanotan-2. The only tanning peptide with regulatory approval.

MC1R Selective receptor target

EU/AU/US Regulatory approvals

13 Amino acids

10–20 Days Typical loading phase

Third-party tested

Every batch independently verified by Janoshik & Freedom Diagnostics for purity and identity.

Full COA included

Certificate of Analysis confirms peptide purity, amino acid composition, and absence of contaminants.

Discreet shipping

Every order ships in plain, unmarked packaging with full tracking. No external branding or product details visible.

Research-grade

Uniform vial presentation, consistent labeling, and batch-level documentation every time.

10-vial pack

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Janoshik & Freedom Diagnostics verified
Certificate of analysis per batch
Direct-from-manufacturer sourcing
Discreet, unmarked packaging

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Research use only. All compounds are sold strictly for in-vitro research and educational purposes. Not approved for human use, therapeutic application, or as food or cosmetic products. By purchasing, you agree to use these products only for legitimate research purposes.

Melanotan

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Full COA included

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Research-grade

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