What is the typical dose of Afamelanotide?

Typical research doses are 16 mg, administered 1x every 2 days. Commonly timed: Typically administered in the afternoon, 2 hours before sun exposure or planned phototesting. These are research figures only — not clinical recommendations.

What are the known side effects of Afamelanotide?

Side effects reported in research include: Nausea (common, mild); Injection site reactions (erythema, induration) (common, mild); Increased appetite (uncommon, mild); Darkening of existing moles or nevi (uncommon, mild); Headache (uncommon, mild); Fatigue or lethargy (uncommon, mild); Hyperpigmentation of skin (generalized) (common, mild); Spontaneous erections or sexual arousal (rare, mild); Allergic reaction (urticaria, angioedema) (rare, serious); Atypical mole development or melanoma risk (rare, serious). Always consult a qualified professional before use.

How is Afamelanotide administered?

Afamelanotide is typically administered via Subcutaneous.

Can Afamelanotide be injected?

In the research literature, Afamelanotide is described with subcutaneous administration. This is research information only, not medical advice.

What is the evidence quality for Afamelanotide?

Afamelanotide carries an evidence grade of A. Grade A — supported by human randomised controlled trials.

Tanning & Pigmentation / Subcutaneous

Afamelanotide

Q: What is Afamelanotide used for in research?

Research on Afamelanotide has focused on: Stimulates melanin production and skin pigmentation; Provides photoprotection against UV radiation; Reduces photosensitivity in erythropoietic protoporphyria; Improves skin tolerance to sun exposure; May reduce phototoxic reactions in porphyria patients.

Also known as CUV1647, α-MSH analog

An alpha-MSH analog that stimulates melanin production and provides photoprotection. FDA-approved for erythropoietic protoporphyria.

What is Afamelanotide used for? Research has focused on stimulates melanin production and skin pigmentation; provides photoprotection against uv radiation; reduces photosensitivity in erythropoietic protoporphyria.

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Evidence grade AFDA approved

Afamelanotide injection at a glance

Figures from the published research literature. Research use only.

Dose range: 16 mg
Route: Subcutaneous

How often, when, and the dosing notes are in the dosing reference further down.

Work out your units in the free calculator

Research status

Evidence grade A: Large human randomised controlled trials, or approved by the FDA or another major authority.
FDA approved: Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for at least one indication.

FDA-approved

For research purposes only. Not approved for human use. Not medical advice.

Research areas

Stimulates melanin production and skin pigmentation
Provides photoprotection against UV radiation
Reduces photosensitivity in erythropoietic protoporphyria
Improves skin tolerance to sun exposure
May reduce phototoxic reactions in porphyria patients

Side effects

Effect	How often	Severity
NauseaOccurs in approximately 30-40% of patients, typically mild and transient. Usually resolves within 1-2 hours post-injection. Taking the injection with food or at a different time of day may reduce incidence.	Common	Mild
Injection site reactions (erythema, induration)Local redness or mild swelling at the injection site is common and usually resolves within 24 hours. Proper site rotation and injection technique minimize severity. Apply ice if needed for comfort.	Common	Mild
Increased appetiteSome patients report increased appetite or food cravings, likely related to MC1R signaling effects on appetite regulation. Typically mild and manageable with dietary awareness.	Uncommon	Mild
Darkening of existing moles or neviAfamelanotide stimulates melanin production in all melanocytes, including those in existing moles. This darkening is expected and typically benign, but baseline dermatologic assessment is recommended before treatment.	Uncommon	Mild
HeadacheMild headaches reported in some patients, typically transient. May be related to systemic effects of α-MSH signaling. Resolves without intervention in most cases.	Uncommon	Mild
Fatigue or lethargySome patients report mild fatigue, particularly in the first few hours after injection. Usually resolves spontaneously. Ensure adequate hydration and sleep.	Uncommon	Mild
Hyperpigmentation of skin (generalized)Generalized darkening of skin tone is the intended therapeutic effect. Degree of pigmentation varies by baseline skin type and individual response. Pigmentation gradually fades over weeks to months after treatment discontinuation.	Common	Mild
Spontaneous erections or sexual arousalα-MSH has effects on sexual function through melanocortin receptor signaling in the hypothalamus. Rare but documented in clinical trials. Typically mild and self-limiting.	Rare	Mild
Allergic reaction (urticaria, angioedema)Rare but serious hypersensitivity reactions have been reported. Symptoms include hives, facial swelling, or difficulty breathing. Seek immediate medical attention if these occur. Contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to afamelanotide or α-MSH.	Rare	Serious
Atypical mole development or melanoma riskTheoretical concern due to melanocyte stimulation, though clinical evidence does not demonstrate increased melanoma risk in erythropoietic protoporphyria patients treated with afamelanotide. Baseline and periodic dermatologic surveillance is recommended, particularly in patients with personal or family history of melanoma.	Rare	Serious

Dosing reference

Afamelanotide dosing reference
Parameter	Value
Dose range	16 mg
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Checked October 2026

Research disclaimer. Figures are drawn from published research literature and community logs. They are not clinical recommendations. Consult a qualified professional. Research use only.

Reconstitution guide

Do not use saline or bacteriostatic saline, use only bacteriostatic water for reconstitution
Do not shake the vial vigorously; gentle swirling prevents peptide degradation
Discard immediately if the solution appears cloudy, discolored, or contains visible particles
Use within 30 days of reconstitution when stored at 2-8°C
Do not freeze the reconstituted solution; freezing may denature the peptide
Use the PeptideVolt reconstitution calculator for your exact concentration

Worked example

With 16 mg in the vial, the water you add changes the draw. Mixed with 1 mL that is 16 mg per mL, so on a U-100 syringe 16 mg is 100 units. Mixed with 2 mL it is 8,000 mcg per mL, so 16 mg is 200 units.

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Molecular and pharmacological data

Molecular weight	1817.96 g/mol
Half-life	Approximately 1-2 hours (plasma); longer duration of effect due to sustained melanin production
Sequence	Members only

Afamelanotide is a synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) that binds to melanocortin-1 receptors (MC1R) on melanocytes, stimulating the production and release of melanin. This increased melanin provides natural photoprotection by absorbing and scattering UV radiation, reducing photosensitivity and phototoxic reactions in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria and other light-sensitive conditions.

Pathways and mechanism detail are for members

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Research citations

4 sources

Biolcati G, et al. (2015). Afamelanotide and narrowband UV-B phototherapy for erythropoietic protoporphyria. New England Journal of Medicine. 373(12):1101-1109. PMID: 26398070
Holme SA, et al. (2006). Afamelanotide (CUV1647), an alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogue, in the treatment of polymorphous light eruption. British Journal of Dermatology. 155(2):405-411. PMID: 16882182
Lim HW, et al. (2018). Afamelanotide and narrowband UV-B phototherapy for erythropoietic protoporphyria: long-term follow-up. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 78(2):357-365. PMID: 29174980
Naik HB, et al. (2014). Afamelanotide treatment of erythropoietic protoporphyria. JAMA Dermatology. 150(9):944-949. PMID: 24898624

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Research use only. All content on this page is provided for informational and educational purposes related to scientific research. Afamelanotide is not approved for human use by the FDA or any equivalent regulatory body. This is not medical advice. Do not use any substance discussed here for therapeutic, diagnostic, or preventative purposes. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions. The Peptide Volt does not endorse the use of any research chemicals. 18+ only.