Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) vs PT-141
Two melanocortin drugs that genuinely won FDA approval — one for a rare light sensitivity, one for low desire — and are sold online as neither.
Melanotan I (Afamelanotide)
Scenesse
FDA-approved as the Scenesse implant for the rare disease EPP (real Phase 3 evidence) — but the injectable 'Melanotan 1' sold online for tanning is a different, unregulated product.
Full Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) evidence reviewPT-141
Bremelanotide / Vyleesi
FDA-approved as Vyleesi for HSDD in premenopausal women, with phase-3 evidence — but the off-label use in men and at higher doses goes beyond what's proven.
Full PT-141 evidence reviewSide by side
| Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) | PT-141 | |
|---|---|---|
| Marketed for | Tanning, photoprotection | Libido, sexual dysfunction |
| Evidence grade | FDA-approved | FDA-approved |
| Family | Sexual / melanocortin | Sexual / melanocortin |
| Regulatory status | FDA-approved | FDA-approved |
| How it's obtained | Rx product | Compounded |
| Key human source | Langendonk, NEJM 2015 (EPP Phase 3) | RECONNECT phase 3, Obstet Gynecol 2019 |
marks a row where the two differ. Evidence grades come from our evidence matrix, which grades each molecule on the human data for the use it is marketed for.
Our verdict
Both are real approved drugs whose online versions are not the approved product. Melanotan I is approved as the Scenesse implant for erythropoietic protoporphyria on Phase 3 evidence, while the injectable 'Melanotan 1' sold for tanning is a different, unregulated product. PT-141 is approved as Vyleesi for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women, also on phase 3 evidence, but its off-label use in men and at higher doses goes beyond what has been shown. In both cases the approval is narrow and the marketing is not.
Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) fits if
You are looking at the photoprotection indication that was actually approved, under specialist care, rather than at tanning.
PT-141 fits if
Your question is desire rather than pigment, and you want to know what the approved indication does and does not cover.
Where to get it
Where to get peptide therapy
Clinician-led telehealth services that prescribe compounded peptides. The specific peptides offered vary by provider — confirm Melanotan I (Afamelanotide) availability before ordering.
- Oak LongevityBest valuePartner
Low-cost sermorelin within a broader longevity stack
- HealthRXPartner
Compounded sermorelin within a broad longevity and weight-care menu
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