Afamelanotide

Afamelanotide (i/ˌæfəmɛˈlænɵtaɪd/), developed at the University of Arizona, is a synthetic analog of the naturally occurring melanocortin peptide hormone alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) that has been shown to induce skin pigmentation through melanogenesis and thereby subsequently reduce sun (UV) damage to UV exposed skin in preliminary studies and clinical trials. Its amino acid sequence is Ac-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Nle-Glu-His--Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly-Lys-Pro-Val-NH2 or -α-MSH.

Afamelanotide is the International Nonproprietary Name for the molecule α-MSH initially researched and developed as melanotan-1 (i/mɛˈlænɵtæn/) and later, CUV1647 . A marketing trade name for one brand of afamelanotide was recently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Name Review Group (NRG) and the Agency's Committee for Human Medicinal Products (CHMP) as Scenesse (pronounced "sen-esse"). On May 5, 2010 the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA - Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco) became the first governmental health organization ever (even before the drug received approval in Europe) to authorize afamelanotide as a medicine for therapeutic treatment of Italian citizens to reduce painful photosensitivity stemming from the orphan disease erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). Afamelanotide is currently being clinically trialled in the form of a "grain of rice" sized bioabsorbable subcutaneous implant as a potential therapeutic photoprotection inducing agent for a series of light related skin indications. This approval allowed the drug to be immediately available for prescription in Italy and reimbursable under the country's national health system. The molecule α-MSH has yet to be approved for use by additional governmental drug regulatory bodies outside of trials, but unlicensed and untested powders sold as "melanotan" are found on the Internet and are reported to be used by tens of thousands of members of the general public.

Multiple regulatory bodies have warned consumers the peptides may be unsafe and ineffective in usage, with one regulatory agency warning that consumers who purchase any product labeled "melanotan" risk buying a counterfeit drug. Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals, the company developing afamelanotide, and medical researchers have warned consumers that counterfeit products sold using the names "melanotan I and II", could "pose a hazard to public health". Clinuvel has stated publicly that products sold online as "melanotan" are not afamelanotide.

Read more about Afamelanotide:  Historical Development, Mechanism of Action, Preclinical Studies Relative To Carcinogenicity, Therapeutic Clinical Trials, General Population Usage of Melanotan Peptides