Source comparison
Melanotan-1 vs MT-1 — Same Peptide, Different Names
The search for what's the difference between melanotan-1 and mt-1 returns zero meaningful distinctions because there are none. MT-1 is the abbreviated research designation for Melanotan-1, which is itself the developmental name for afamelanotide. A 13-amino-ac
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- The search for what's the difference between melanotan-1 and mt-1 returns zero meaningful distinctions because there are none. MT-1 is the abbreviated research designation for Melanotan-1, which is itself the developmental name for afamelanotide. A 13-amino-acid synthetic analog of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). The naming confusion predates widespread clinical awareness: MT-1 was coined during early peptide synthesis protocols at the University of Arizona in the 1980s, long before the compound entered formal clinical trials under the afamelanotide designation. If you're comparing MT-1 and Melanotan-1 expecting to choose between two peptides, you're comparing a compound to itself.
- Our team works directly with researchers sourcing peptides for photoprotection and melanogenesis studies. The question surfaces repeatedly. And the answer matters because misunderstanding nomenclature creates procurement errors, dosing confusion, and incorrect experimental design.
- What's the difference between Melanotan-1 and MT-1?
- There is no difference. Melanotan-1 and MT-1 are identical designations for the same synthetic peptide, afamelanotide (CAS 75921-69-6). Both terms refer to a 13-amino-acid analog of α-MSH that binds melanocortin-1 receptors (MC1R) to stimulate eumelanin production in melanocytes. The MT-1 abbreviation originated in academic research settings, while Melanotan-1 became the commercial and clinical identifier. The compound's international nonproprietary name (INN) is afamelanotide, but MT-1 and Melanotan-1 remain the dominant terms in peptide research communities.
- The real question isn't what separates MT-1 from Melanotan-1. It's why the naming persists in parallel. Afamelanotide entered Phase III trials in the early 2000s for erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), a rare genetic disorder causing severe photosensitivity. The European Medicines Agency approved it in 2014 under the brand name Scenesse. Despite formal INN adoption, the research community retained MT-1 and Melanotan-1 as functional shorthand because these terms predate regulatory naming by nearly two decades. When procuring peptides for research, you'll encounter all three designations. MT-1, Melanotan-1, and afamelanotide. Referencing the same CAS number and amino-acid sequence. This article covers the naming origin, the biological mechanism that makes this peptide distinct from unrelated compounds, and the procurement clarity researchers need when sourcing MT-1 for lab work.