In PepBank now:147 peptides, 6 blends and 13 other compounds97,577 study results from 17,383 studies8,473 clinical trialsUpdated
Comparing 2 peptides · Data version 308560
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| Peptide | Natural peptide ACTH (corticotropin) | Synthetic analog Melanotan I (afamelanotide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identity | |||
| Kind | Natural peptide | Synthetic analog | |
| Area | Sexual health and hormones | Sexual health and hormones | |
| Evidence | |||
| Amount of evidence | 181 | 667 | |
| Evidence level | Has results from studies in people | Has results from studies in people | |
| Safety | |||
| Safety results | 22 (20 in people) | 36 (29 in people) | |
| Status | |||
| Approval | |||
| Sport (WADA) | |||
| Registered trials | 102 · 7 active199 more mention it but do not test it | 23 · 1 active | |
Shared outcomes
From the regulatory data of each peptide.
The FDA label for Acthar Gel says: “Infantile spasms, acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis, and specified inflammatory and edematous disorders, subject to label conditions”
Outcome groups with study results for at least two of these peptides. Counts include only results from studies that gave the peptide. Bar length is the number of results, on one scale. The bars show how much was studied, not how large an effect was. A peptide with more studies can look stronger here without being stronger. For results, see the randomized results above.
| Outcome group | ACTH (corticotropin) | Melanotan I (afamelanotide) |
|---|---|---|
| Receptor activity and mechanismNervous system and cognition | 29920 | 23152 |
PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.
The EMA label for Scenesse says: “Prevention of phototoxicity in adult patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP)”
| Adverse eventsWhole body | 20182 | 29245 |
|---|
| Immune responseKidney and urinary | 24177 | 2631112 |
|---|
| Skin and hairImmune and inflammation | 11 | 27252 |
|---|
| NeuroprotectionNervous system and cognition | 945 | 5423418 |
|---|
| Inflammation markersImmune and inflammation | 927 | 534310 |
|---|
| Quality of lifeImmune and inflammation | 22 | 1414 |
|---|
| Kidney functionKidney and urinary | 1082 | 21165 |
|---|
| PharmacokineticsPharmacology | 422 | 10631 |
|---|
| Exercise and physical functionNervous system and cognition | 22 | 651 |
|---|
| Bone and jointMusculoskeletal | 752 | 211 |
|---|
| PainImmune and inflammation | 11 | 752 |
|---|
Each analog against its native parent, residue by residue. Substitutions, non-standard residues and modifications are marked. Calculated from the two sequences.
Melanotan I (afamelanotide) differs from Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) at 2 positions and carries 2 added groups.
What is different
Registered trials, ranked by phase (late phases first), then posted results and enrollment. Status is the registry status. Study results come from published studies. Results posted at ClinicalTrials.gov are shown on each trial page.
Top 3 of 102 trials, ranked by phase, then posted results and enrollment: 2 completed · 1 stopped early · 3 with posted results · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)
Mallinckrodt172 participants16 Dec 2016 to 25 Oct 2019
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
Mallinckrodt143 participants22 Jun 2017 to 25 Nov 2019
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
State University of New York at Buffalo64 participantsAug 2013 to 1 Nov 2018
Multiple Sclerosis
199 more mention it but do not test it. They only measure it or name it in their text.
Top 3 of 23 trials, ranked by phase, then posted results and enrollment: 3 completed · 3 with posted results · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)
Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited100 participantsMay 2007 to 9 Dec 2009
Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited93 participantsMay 2012 to Jul 2013
Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited74 participantsSept 2009 to May 2011
Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
For each outcome that two or more peptides have results for: the best result of a single randomized trial, on the same measure (the same kind of number, the same unit). When a trial has several dose arms, the cell shows the highest dose arm. The trials differ in people, length and dose, so a gap between two cells is not proof that one peptide works better.
No outcome has a randomized-trial result on the same measure for two or more of these peptides yet.
The other peptides have no randomized result on the same measure, so these results cannot be set side by side.
| Outcome | ACTH (corticotropin) | Melanotan I (afamelanotide) |
|---|---|---|
| PharmacokineticsEndocrine and hormonesCompared as: value in the arm that got the peptide, in mg | 30 mg IVMP-equivalent cortisol exposure of 80 U ACTH analog · 80 U daily ACTH analog, assuming linearity Dose studied: 80 U daily5 daysn not reported2016 | No comparable result 6 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit. |
| NeuroprotectionEyeCompared as: value in the arm that got the peptide, in µm | −13.1 µm pRNFL loss n = 372023 | No randomized trial result 54 results from other study designs. |
| Kidney functionKidney and urinaryCompared as: value in the arm that got the peptide, in days | 23 days Median time to first relapse · ACTH; interquartile range 9-32 Control; interquartile range 14-51: 21 days Dose studied: 80 U/1.73 m² twice weekly6 monthsn = 312018 | |
| Anxiety and moodMental health and moodCompared as: value in the arm that got the peptide, in points/month | 0.95 points/month MHI slope · ACTH; ±0.38; p = 0.02 15 monthsn = 232017 | |
| Adverse eventsMental health and moodCompared as: value in the arm that got the peptide, in symptoms per patient | 0 symptoms per patient Psychiatric symptoms per patient 15 monthsn = 232017 |
30 mg
IVMP-equivalent cortisol exposure of 80 U ACTH analog · 80 U daily ACTH analog, assuming linearity
Dose studied: 80 U daily5 daysn not reported2016
No comparable result
6 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.
No randomized trial result 21 results from other study designs. |
No randomized trial result 9 results from other study designs. |
No comparable result 7 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit. |
−13.1 µm
pRNFL loss
n = 372023
No randomized trial result
54 results from other study designs.
23 days
Median time to first relapse · ACTH; interquartile range 9-32
Control; interquartile range 14-51: 21 days
Dose studied: 80 U/1.73 m² twice weekly6 monthsn = 312018
No randomized trial result
21 results from other study designs.
0.95 points/month
MHI slope · ACTH; ±0.38; p = 0.02
15 monthsn = 232017
No randomized trial result
9 results from other study designs.
0 symptoms per patient
Psychiatric symptoms per patient
15 monthsn = 232017
No comparable result
7 randomized-trial results measure it in another way or another unit.