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Study · Observational study · n = 70 · 2023

3 results

Afamelanotide Is Associated with Dose-Dependent Protective Effect from Liver Damage Related to Erythropoietic Protoporphyria.

Minder AE, Schneider-Yin X, Zulewski H, Minder CE, Minder EI

Life (Basel, Switzerland)21 Apr 2023Cited by 5 (Europe PMC)

PMID37109595 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC10143433 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3390/life13041066 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-37109595
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Summary

In animal models, melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSHs) protect the liver from various injuries. Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a metabolic disorder, leads to the accumulation of protoporphyrin (PPIX). In addition to the most prominent symptom of incapacitating phototoxic skin reactions, 20% of EPP patients exhibit disturbed liver functioning and 4% experience terminal liver failure caused by the hepatobiliary elimination of excess PPIX. Skin symptoms are mitigated through the application of the controlled-release implant afamelanotide, an α-MSH analog, every sixty days. Recently, we showed that liver function tests (LFTs) improved during afamelanotide treatment when compared to before treatment. The present study investigated whether this effect is dose-dependent, as the evidence of dose dependency would support a beneficial influence of afamelanotide.MethodsIn this retrospective observational study, we included 2933 liver-function tests, 1186 PPIX concentrations and 1659 afamelanotide implant applications in 70 EPP patients. We investigated whether the number of days since the preceding afamelanotide dose or the number of doses during the preceding 365 days had an effect on LFTs and PPIX levels. In addition, we assessed the effect of global radiation.ResultsInter-patient differences exerted the most prominent effect on PPIX and LFTs. In addition, PPIX increased significantly with an increase in the number of days since the last afamelanotide implant (p < 0.0001). ALAT and bilirubin decreased significantly with an increasing number of afamelanotide doses in the preceding 365 days (p = 0.012, p = 0.0299, respectively). Global radiation only influenced PPIX (p = 0.0113).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that afamelanotide ameliorates both PPIX concentrations and LFTs in EPP in a dose-dependent manner.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

  1. 01HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In 70 patients with EPP, PPIX concentration rose significantly with more days since the last afamelanotide implant, so it was lower closer to an implant.

    In plain wordsIn people with EPP, PPIX levels were higher the longer ago the last afamelanotide implant was given.

    Peptide
    Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
    Outcome
    DecreaseProtoporphyrin IX (PPIX) concentration by days since last implant
    Study

    n = 70

    Outcome group
    Liver fat and liver function · Liver
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · implantAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    In addition, PPIX increased significantly with an increase in the number of days since the last afamelanotide implant (p < 0.0001).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this retrospective observational study, we included 2933 liver-function tests, 1186 PPIX concentrations and 1659 afamelanotide implant applications in 70 EPP patients.
  2. 02HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In 70 patients with EPP, ALAT decreased significantly with more afamelanotide doses in the preceding 365 days.

    In plain wordsIn people with EPP, the liver enzyme ALAT was lower with more afamelanotide doses in the past year.

    Peptide
    Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
    Outcome
    DecreaseALAT by number of doses in preceding 365 days
    Study

    n = 70

    Outcome group
    Liver fat and liver function · Liver
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · implantAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    ALAT and bilirubin decreased significantly with an increasing number of afamelanotide doses in the preceding 365 days (p = 0.012, p = 0.0299, respectively).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this retrospective observational study, we included 2933 liver-function tests, 1186 PPIX concentrations and 1659 afamelanotide implant applications in 70 EPP patients.
  3. 03HumanObservational studyEfficacy outcome

    In 70 patients with EPP, bilirubin decreased significantly with more afamelanotide doses in the preceding 365 days.

    In plain wordsIn people with EPP, bilirubin was lower with more afamelanotide doses in the past year.

    Peptide
    Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
    Outcome
    DecreaseBilirubin by number of doses in preceding 365 days
    Study

    n = 70

    Outcome group
    Liver fat and liver function · Liver
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · implantAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    ALAT and bilirubin decreased significantly with an increasing number of afamelanotide doses in the preceding 365 days (p = 0.012, p = 0.0299, respectively).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In this retrospective observational study, we included 2933 liver-function tests, 1186 PPIX concentrations and 1659 afamelanotide implant applications in 70 EPP patients.

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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