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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 12 · 2004

9 results

Effects of a superpotent melanotropic peptide in combination with solar UV radiation on tanning of the skin in human volunteers.

Dorr RT, Ertl G, Levine N, Brooks C, Bangert JL, Powell MB, Humphrey S, Alberts DS

Archives of dermatology1 Jul 2004Cited by 35 (Europe PMC)

PMID15262693 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1001/archderm.140.7.827 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-15262693
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study9

9 results from studies that gave the peptide. 9 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In volunteers exposed to sunlight, adding MT-1 for 5 days per week for 4 weeks significantly enhanced tanning of the back compared with sunlight alone.

    In plain wordsAdding MT-1 to sun exposure gave stronger tanning of the back than sunlight alone.

    Peptide
    Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
    Outcome
    IncreaseTanning of the back with sunlight plus MT-1 (study 3)
    Study

    n = 8

    Comparator
    Sunlight alone
    Outcome group
    Skin and hair · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    0.16 mg/kg · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In the third study, there was significantly enhanced tanning of the back in the MT-1 group
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A final study randomized 8 subjects to 3 to 5 days of sunlight to half of the back or to sunlight plus 0.16 mg/kg of MT-1 for 5 days per week for 4 weeks.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In volunteers exposed to sunlight, tanning with MT-1 was maintained at least 3 weeks longer than tanning in the sunlight-only controls.

    In plain wordsTanning that followed MT-1 plus sunlight lasted at least 3 weeks longer than tanning from sunlight alone.

    Peptide
    Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
    Outcome
    IncreaseDuration of tanning (study 3)
    Study

    n = 8

    Comparator
    Sunlight alone
    Outcome group
    Skin and hair · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    0.16 mg/kg · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Tanning maintained longer
    3 weeks
    MT-1 versus sunlight-only controls

    Source sentences

    Summary
    and this was maintained at least 3 weeks longer than the tanning in the sunlight-only controls
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A final study randomized 8 subjects to 3 to 5 days of sunlight to half of the back or to sunlight plus 0.16 mg/kg of MT-1 for 5 days per week for 4 weeks.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In volunteers exposed to sunlight, the sunlight-only controls needed 50% more sun-exposure time for equivalent tanning than the MT-1 group.

    In plain wordsWithout MT-1, volunteers needed 50% more sun exposure to reach the same tan.

    Peptide
    Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
    Outcome
    DecreaseSun-exposure time needed for equivalent tanning (study 3)
    Study

    n = 8

    Comparator
    Sunlight alone
    Outcome group
    Skin and hair · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    0.16 mg/kg · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Extra sun-exposure time in controls
    50%
    sunlight-only controls

    Source sentences

    Summary
    who required 50% more sun-exposure time for equivalent tanning.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    A final study randomized 8 subjects to 3 to 5 days of sunlight to half of the back or to sunlight plus 0.16 mg/kg of MT-1 for 5 days per week for 4 weeks.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In volunteers given MT-1 for 10 days followed by UV-B irradiation of the neck, tanning occurred in 3 of 4 subjects.

    In plain wordsIn volunteers who received MT-1 and then UV-B light, 3 of 4 tanned.

    Peptide
    Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
    Outcome
    IncreaseTanning after MT-1 plus UV-B (study 1)
    Study

    n = 4

    Outcome group
    Skin and hair · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    0.08 mg/kg per day · subcutaneous · 10 daysAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Tanning in the first study was achieved in 3 of 4 subjects receiving MT-1
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    The first study randomized 4 subjects to MT-1 (0.08 mg/kg per day subcutaneously) and 4 subjects to injections of isotonic sodium chloride (9%) solution for 10 days, followed by neck irradiation with 3 times the minimal erythema dose (MED) of UV-B light.
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In the 3 of 4 volunteers who tanned after MT-1 for 10 days and UV-B irradiation of the neck, there were 47% fewer sunburn cells at the irradiated neck site.

    In plain wordsIn the 3 volunteers who tanned after MT-1 and UV-B light, the neck skin had 47% fewer sunburn cells.

    Peptide
    Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
    Outcome
    DecreaseSunburn cells at the irradiated neck site (study 1)
    Study

    n = 3

    Outcome group
    Skin and hair · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    0.08 mg/kg per day · subcutaneous · 10 daysAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Sunburn cell reduction
    47%
    irradiated neck site

    Source sentences

    Summary
    and these subjects also had 47% fewer sunburn cells at the irradiated neck site.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    The first study randomized 4 subjects to MT-1 (0.08 mg/kg per day subcutaneously) and 4 subjects to injections of isotonic sodium chloride (9%) solution for 10 days, followed by neck irradiation with 3 times the minimal erythema dose (MED) of UV-B light.
  6. 06HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome

    In the second study, more skin sites darkened with the higher MT-1 dose of 0.16 mg/kg per day than in the first study.

    In plain wordsAt the higher MT-1 dose, more skin sites darkened than at the lower dose.

    Peptide
    Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
    Outcome
    IncreaseNumber of skin sites darkened at higher MT-1 dose (study 2)
    Study

    n = 12

    Comparator
    Lower MT-1 dose of study 1
    Outcome group
    Skin and hair · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    0.16 mg/kg per day · 10 daysAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    More skin sites darkened with the higher dose of MT-1 in the second study.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In the next study (n = 12), the MT-1 dosage was increased to 0.16 mg/kg per day for 10 days, with UV-B radiation (0.25-0.75 MED) given to a buttock site for 5 days during (n = 7) or after (n = 5) MT-1 administration.
    Summary · context
    The first study randomized 4 subjects to MT-1 (0.08 mg/kg per day subcutaneously) and 4 subjects to injections of isotonic sodium chloride (9%) solution for 10 days, followed by neck irradiation with 3 times the minimal erythema dose (MED) of UV-B light.
  7. 07HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome

    In the three phase 1 studies of MT-1 given with UV-B light or sunlight exposure, no pathologic findings occurred at any exposed site in any subject.

    In plain wordsIn three small studies, MT-1 with UV-B light or sunlight caused no pathologic findings at the exposed skin sites.

    Peptide
    Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
    Outcome
    No significant changePathologic findings at UV-B or sun-exposed sites
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    There were no pathologic findings at any UV-B or sun-exposed sites in any subject.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Three phase 1 clinical trials of a superpotent melanotropic peptide, melanotan-1 (MT-1, or [Nle(4)-D-Phe(7)]alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone) were performed to demonstrate safety for MT-1 therapy combined with UV-B light or sunlight.
  8. 08HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome

    In the three phase 1 studies of MT-1, toxic effects of MT-1 were minor and included nausea.

    In plain wordsIn three small studies, MT-1 caused minor effects that included nausea.

    Peptide
    Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
    Outcome
    Not applicableNausea
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Gastrointestinal
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Toxic effects due to MT-1 were minor, consisting of nausea and transient facial flushing.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Three phase 1 clinical trials of a superpotent melanotropic peptide, melanotan-1 (MT-1, or [Nle(4)-D-Phe(7)]alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone) were performed to demonstrate safety for MT-1 therapy combined with UV-B light or sunlight.
  9. 09HumanNon-randomized trialSafety outcome

    In the three phase 1 studies of MT-1, toxic effects of MT-1 were minor and included transient facial flushing.

    In plain wordsIn three small studies, MT-1 caused minor effects that included short-lived facial flushing.

    Peptide
    Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
    Outcome
    Not applicableTransient facial flushing
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Skin and wound
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Toxic effects due to MT-1 were minor, consisting of nausea and transient facial flushing.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Three phase 1 clinical trials of a superpotent melanotropic peptide, melanotan-1 (MT-1, or [Nle(4)-D-Phe(7)]alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone) were performed to demonstrate safety for MT-1 therapy combined with UV-B light or sunlight.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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