Afamelanotide

  • Melanotan
  • Melanotan I
  • Melanotan -1
  • 4 -L- norleucine -7- D-phenylalanine - α -melanocyte - stimulierndes hormone ( NDP - α -MSH )

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Melanotan I ( afamelanotide earlier CUV1647 ) and NDP - α -MSH hormone is a synthetic peptide that mimics the action of the natural hormone, α -MSH. It is through targeted changes its chemical structure but far more effective than the natural version. This is due to an over α -MSH prolonged half-life and a significantly stronger binding to the melanocortin receptor ( MC1R ).

Melanotan is intended for skin cancer prevention, especially in particularly fair-skinned people who live in sunny regions with strong UV exposure. Melanotan stimulates melanin ( eumelanin ) production in the melanocytes. As a result, the amount of melanin in the skin increased by up to 100 %, and the skin turns brown. The higher melanin content provides extra protection from harmful effects of UV radiation - as was demonstrated in a controlled experiment, a reduction of DNA damage caused by UV exposure by up to 50 %. The application area was gradually extended and now includes allergic reactions, which are triggered by UV radiation.

Application

The drug is being developed by the Australian company Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals ( formerly EpiTan ) and is currently in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of polymorphic light eruption. For the treatment of erythropoietic protoporphyria, the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA) Melanotan I has been classified as an orphan drug.

The drug should be administered over a very small implant that releases the drug continuously for 30 days. In Italy, since 2011 approved as a drug.

Ultimately, the cosmetic use of Melanotan is sure to be the largest market in the future to look for the substance.

Chemical structure

Melanotan I is composed of 13 amino acid peptide having the primary structure of Ac - Ser-Tyr -Ser -Nle -Glu -His -D-Phe -Arg -Trp -Gly- Lys-Pro -Val -NH2. Compared to α -MSH two amino acids are exchanged: met4 → Nle4 and L- Phe7 → D- Phe7

CAS registry number Peptide hormone Melanocortin 1 receptor Active ingredient Bremelanotide
32786
de