The record
| Class | melanocortin agonist |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Afamelanotide, Scenesse, CUV1647, MT-1 |
| Chain length | - |
| Molecular weight | 1,646.87 Da |
| Half-life | ~30 minutes (plasma); ~15 hours (apparent with implant) |
| Route | SC implant (approved); SC injection (research) |
| Studied for | Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) - FDA approved; Polymorphous light eruption; Solar urticaria; Vitiligo (investigational) |
| Research use | Melanocortin receptor studies; Photoprotection research; Melanoma prevention |
| What has been shown | Increased eumelanin production (photoprotective); UV-independent melanogenesis; Increased antioxidant activity; Enhanced DNA repair |
| How it works | Melanocortin receptor agonist; binds MC1R on melanocytes, activating adenylyl cyclase → cAMP → PKA → CREB → MITF → increased tyrosinase expression → eumelanin synthesis. Also binds MC3R-MC5R non-selectively. UV-independent melanogenesis. |
| Patent status | patented |
| Regulatory status | FDA approved (2019); EMA approved (2014) |
Blank = not established in the record. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
Where it is matched
- Oxidative Stress Resilience (affection, 42%)
- Melanocortin Pathway Signaling (affection, 56%)
- Acetaminophen toxicity (illness, 30%)
- Antioxidant supplementation (illness, 30%)
- Detoxification support (illness, 30%)
- Erythropoietic protoporphyria - FDA approved (illness, 100%)
- FDA-approved for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women (illness, 30%)
- Polymorphous light eruption (illness, 100%)
- Skin lightening (illness, 30%)
- Solar urticaria (illness, 100%)
- Vitiligo (illness, 100%)