All products are for laboratory research purposes only. Not for human consumption.
Synthetic 13-residue analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone
Melanotan I
Melanotan I, also called afamelanotide, is a synthetic 13-residue analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It differs from the natural hormone at two positions - norleucine at residue 4 and D-phenylalanine at residue 7 - and those substitutions are what make it resistant to the enzymes that clear alpha-MSH within minutes. Supplied as a lyophilised powder in sealed vials, boxed in tens, for laboratory research use only. Unlike most compounds in this catalogue it has a licensed counterpart: afamelanotide holds marketing authorisation in the EU and US for a rare photosensitivity disorder, which means its pharmacology is documented to a standard research peptides rarely reach.
$70.00 (£55.30) per box of 10 vials · 10 mg
Select size
Boxes
- Sold in boxes of 10 vials. No minimum order and no trade account.
- Dispatched in 1–2 working days, tracked to the UK, USA, EU and worldwide.
- Batch-specific Certificate of Analysis from Janoshik or Freedom Diagnostic in every box.
- Photographed before it ships, so you see the exact order that leaves us.
Overview
What is Melanotan I?
Melanotan I, also called afamelanotide, is a synthetic 13-residue analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It differs from the natural hormone at two positions - norleucine at residue 4 and D-phenylalanine at residue 7 - and those substitutions are what make it resistant to the enzymes that clear alpha-MSH within minutes. Supplied as a lyophilised powder in sealed vials, boxed in tens, for laboratory research use only. Unlike most compounds in this catalogue it has a licensed counterpart: afamelanotide holds marketing authorisation in the EU and US for a rare photosensitivity disorder, which means its pharmacology is documented to a standard research peptides rarely reach.
Melanotan I at a glance
| Compound | Melanotan I |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Afamelanotide, MT-1, MT1, Melanotan 1, NDP-alpha-MSH, Melanotan I peptide |
| Classification | Synthetic 13-residue analogue of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone |
| CAS number | 75921-69-6 |
| Molecular formula | C78H111N21O19 |
| Molecular weight | 1646.8 g/mol |
| Sequence | Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH2 |
| PubChem CID | 16197727 |
| Purity | 99%+ by HPLC |
| Physical form | Lyophilised powder |
| Available strengths | 10 mg |
| Box quantity | 10 vials |
| Price from | $7.00 per vial ($70.00 per box) |
| Research status | Melanotan I is unusual in this catalogue. Its licensed form, afamelanotide, has completed clinical trials and holds marketing authorisation in the EU and US for erythropoietic protoporphyria, a rare light-sensitivity disorder. That means its pharmacokinetics and receptor behaviour are documented to a standard most research peptides never reach. As supplied here it remains a research material rather than a medicine. |
| Documentation | Batch-specific COA (Janoshik or Freedom Diagnostic) |
These are catalogue target specifications, not batch results. The 99%+ purity figure is the specification we buy to. The authoritative figures for any particular box are the ones printed on that box’s Certificate of Analysis, which is lot-specific.
We make no “third-party verified” claim for a batch unless the matching report is supplied with it. Ask for the current COA for the lot in stock before you order — we will send it.
Pricing
How much does Melanotan I cost?
Melanotan I starts at $7.00 per vial (£5.53), sold in boxes of 10 at $70.00. One box is the smallest order and there is no trade account or minimum spend. Larger volumes are negotiable.
| Strength | Per vial | Box of 10 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 mg | $7.00 £5.53 | $70.00 £55.30 |
Handling
How should Melanotan I be stored and reconstituted?
Sealed vials tolerate ambient temperature in transit and keep at −20 °C beyond that. Reconstitute slowly down the vial wall, swirl rather than shake, then refrigerate at 2–8 °C and aliquot before freezing.
Why each of those matters, and what a freeze–thaw cycle actually costs: peptide handling and storage reference.
Research Context
What is Melanotan I researched for?
Below is a plain-English summary of what published research has investigated, and what it has found. These are descriptions of research activity and published results. They are not claims about what Melanotan I does, and nothing here is a statement that it is safe or effective for any purpose.
What it does at the receptor
Melanotan I is a full agonist at the melanocortin-1 receptor, the receptor on melanocytes that shifts pigment production toward eumelanin. The two substitutions in its sequence, norleucine at position 4 and D-phenylalanine at position 7, block the proteolysis that clears natural alpha-MSH within minutes and extend the half-life by orders of magnitude. 1
What the clinical work actually measured
The approved indication is prevention of phototoxicity in erythropoietic protoporphyria, a disorder in which sunlight causes severe pain. The trials measured pain-free time in sunlight, not cosmetic pigmentation. That distinction is worth carrying into any reading of the literature: the endpoints are photoprotective rather than aesthetic. 2
What is not established
Long-term safety outside the licensed indication and licensed dose is limited. Use as a tanning agent is not an approved indication anywhere and has not been studied to the same standard.
References
- 1Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Afamelanotide and its Clinical Use in Treating Dermatologic Disorders. Clin Pharmacokinet (2017). PMID 28063031
- 2Afamelanotide for prevention of phototoxicity in erythropoietic protoporphyria. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol (2021). PMID 33507118
Links open the record on PubMed or PubMed Central. These are citations to published research, not claims about this product.
Applications
Where Melanotan I is used in the laboratory
- Melanocortin-1 receptor pharmacology, the receptor that drives the switch toward eumelanin synthesis
- Comparative studies against Melanotan II, a cyclic analogue with activity across a broader set of melanocortin receptors
- Photoprotection models, the indication for which the licensed form was approved
- Peptide stability work, since the Nle4 and D-Phe7 substitutions are a textbook case of protecting a peptide from enzymatic clearance
Verification
Does Melanotan I come with a COA?
Yes — every box. Each batch of Melanotan I is analysed by Janoshik Analytical or Freedom Diagnostic, and the certificate is tied to the batch number on the vial label.
Example COA. You receive the certificate matching your own batch.
Questions
Melanotan I questions, answered
How does Melanotan I differ from Melanotan II?
Structure and receptor selectivity. Melanotan I is linear and acts principally at the melanocortin-1 receptor, the one involved in pigmentation. Melanotan II is a cyclic heptapeptide with activity across several melanocortin receptors including MC3 and MC4, which is why its literature also covers appetite and sexual function rather than pigmentation alone. They are not interchangeable, and the research questions they are used for differ.
How much does Melanotan I cost?
Melanotan I starts at $7.00 per vial, sold in boxes of 10 vials at $70.00 per box (about £55.30). 1 strength available: 10 mg. There is no minimum order.
How is Melanotan I shipped?
Tracked, in plain packaging, dispatched within 1–2 working days. Country-by-country estimates are on the shipping page.
