Is MT-1 (Melanotan I) legal?
MT-1 (Melanotan I) is an FDA approved drug. For drug-tested athletes it is not on the WADA prohibited list. Yes, Scenesse implant prescribed by dermatology / specialty providers for EPP. Off-label use for general pigmentation is outside the FDA approval.. Legal status depends on your country and changes over time. This reflects US status at the time of writing and is not legal or medical advice.
Regulatory status
- FDA: Approved as Afamelanotide (Scenesse), 2019, for adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria.
- WADA: Not listed
- Prescription: Yes, Scenesse implant prescribed by dermatology / specialty providers for EPP. Off-label use for general pigmentation is outside the FDA approval.
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.