05 / 74 · 0:58 · Original AXON film
Melanotan I vs Melanotan II
The burned-in captions and transcript carry the scientific claims and their limitations. The visuals are conceptual illustrations, not validated molecular models or experimental images. The video has no voice or audio. The full explanation is visible on screen; optional accessible captions are available in the player.
Read every result in its study context. A cell experiment, animal model, exploratory analysis and controlled human trial answer different questions.
Prepared 05 November 2026. Regulatory status is jurisdiction- and date-specific. No claim of specialist review or exhaustive evidence coverage.
Transcript
Afamelanotide | Melanotan I
Two similar names can hide a major regulatory difference. Afamelanotide, also called Melanotan I, has a specific approved medical use. [1]
US indication: adult EPP
The regulated SCENESSE implant helps adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria increase pain-free light exposure. It is not an approval for cosmetic tanning products sold under a similar name. [1]
Melanotan II | Broad receptor activity
Melanotan II acts across several melanocortin receptors. Receptor activity and early human experiments do not establish a safe tanning product. [2] [3]
TGA safety alert | 2026
Australia’s regulator has warned about inconsistent contents in products sold for tanning. Product identity, indication and medical supervision matter far more than the shared name. [4]
Sources and context
These linked sources support the evidence distinctions in this short overview. This is not a systematic review, endorsement or treatment recommendation.
- SCENESSE (afamelanotide) FDA prescribing information →US-approved product label
- CLIPSing Melanotan-II to Discover Multiple Functionally Selective hMCR Agonists →Primary receptor-pharmacology study
- Evaluation of melanotan-II in a pilot phase-I clinical study →Primary small early human study
- TGA: Melanotan II tanning peptide products found to be inconsistently dosed →Australian regulator safety alert; 17 August 2026
