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.