What is the half-life of MT-1 (Melanotan I)?
MT-1 (Melanotan I) has a reported half life of ~1 hour, given subcutaneous. That is why it is typically dosed daily loading → 1-2x weekly maintenance. A shorter half life means more frequent dosing to keep blood levels steady, a longer one lets you space doses further apart.
Quick facts
- Half-life: ~1 hour
- Route: Subcutaneous
- Typical schedule: Daily loading → 1-2x weekly maintenance
- Cycle length: Loading 2-3 wks, then maintenance
References
- Afamelanotide for Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (Scenesse approval data) — Langendonk JG et al., NEJM, 2015
- Skin pigmentation and pharmacokinetics of melanotan-I in humans — Ugwu SO, Blanchard J, Dorr RT, Levine N, et al.; Biopharmaceutics & Drug Disposition; 1997
- Afamelanotide: An Orphan Drug with Potential for Broad Dermatologic Applications — Wu J, Cotliar R; Journal of Drugs in Dermatology; 2021
Pepdex is an editorial reference, not medical advice. Peptides vary in legal and approval status by country, many are research compounds without full human safety data. Talk to a qualified clinician before starting anything.
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Last updated 2026-06-06.