What is Alpha-MSH?

A 13-amino-acid hormone that drives skin pigmentation and calms inflammation; afamelanotide (Melanotan I) is an analog.

Alpha-MSH in the library · · Human Trials · What are peptides?

2 registered trials · 81 indexed papers · 104 human / 113 animal studies

From the PeptideWhiz library entry. "As described" sections summarize claims made in the sources; they are not PeptideWhiz endorsements.

What it is

A 13-amino-acid hormone that drives skin pigmentation and calms inflammation; afamelanotide (Melanotan I) is an analog.

Type: Peptide hormone.

Definition (National Library of Medicine)

“A 13-amino acid peptide derived from proteolytic cleavage of adrenocorticotropic hormone, the N-terminal segment of ACTH. ACTH (1-13) is amidated at the C-terminal to form ACTH (1-13)nh2 which in turn is acetylated to form alpha-msh in the secretory granules. Alpha-msh stimulates the synthesis and distribution of melanin in melanocytes in mammals and melanophores in lower vertebrates.”

  • MeSH: alpha-MSH

Human research

The registered human trials and peer-reviewed human studies linked below are listed from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed. A study is linked only when Alpha-MSH is one of its interventions, or is named in the study title or subject headings.

Listing a study does not mean it showed a benefit, and it is not medical advice.

Registered human trials (2)

TrialPhaseStatusYearEnrolled
Validation of the Concept of the Autoantibodies Directed Against the Neuropeptides Involved in Food Intake Regulation on the Incidental Cases of Eating Disorderscompleted2018211
Phase I Study of Alpha-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone in Patients With Acute Renal FailurePhase 1completed199945

Peer-reviewed studies (81)

PaperAuthorsJournalYearType
Setmelanotide for the Treatment of Acquired Hypothalamic ObesityMiller JL et al.The New England journal of medicine2026Randomized Controlled Trial
Clearance of multiple antibiotic-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci is selectively associated with higher circulating α-melanocyte stimulating hormone in patients evaluated for chronic inflammatory response syndromeDiTulio M et al.Frontiers in endocrinology2026Observational Study
Adjunctive use of Polypodium leucotomos extract in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria: An exploratory studyShetty N et al.Photochemistry and photobiology2026Clinical Trial
Setmelanotide in Bardet-Biedl Syndrome: A 52-Week Comparison of Phase 3 Trial Participants With a Matched Registry CohortArgente J et al.Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)2026Clinical Trial, Phase III
Impact of the Melanocortin-4 Receptor Agonist Setmelanotide on MASLD and Kidney Function in Bardet-Biedl SyndromeHühne T et al.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2026Observational Study
German Cohort Observational Study to Investigate the Short- and Long-Term Safety and Clinical Effectiveness of Afamelanotide [amount hidden] (SCENESSE) in Patients With Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP)Homey B et al.Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine2025Observational Study
Impact of Setmelanotide on Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Patients With Bardet-Biedl SyndromeHaqq AM et al.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2025Randomized Controlled Trial
Setmelanotide in patients aged 2-5 years with rare MC4R pathway-associated obesity (VENTURE): a 1 year, open-label, multicenter, phase 3 trialArgente J et al.The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology2025Clinical Trial, Phase III
Monoallelic pathogenic variants in LEPR do not cause obesityDelplanque J et al.American journal of human genetics2024Clinical Trial, Phase III
Greater lactate accumulation does not alter peripheral concentrations of key appetite-regulating neuropeptidesMcCarthy SF et al.Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)2024Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of Hepatic and Renal Impairment on the Pharmacokinetics of Dersimelagon (MT-7117), an Oral Melanocortin-1 Receptor AgonistOgasawara A et al.Clinical pharmacology in drug development2024Clinical Trial, Phase I
Setmelanotide for the treatment of acquired hypothalamic obesity: a phase 2, open-label, multicentre trialRoth CL et al.The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology2024Clinical Trial, Phase II
The effects of cholecalciferol and afamelanotide on vitamin D levels in erythropoietic protoporphyria: a multicentre cohort studyKluijver LG et al.The British journal of dermatology2024Observational Study
Could setmelanotide be the game-changer for acquired hypothalamic obesity?van Santen HM et al.Frontiers in endocrinology2023Randomized Controlled Trial
A feasibility and safety study of afamelanotide in acute stroke patients - an open label, proof of concept, phase iia clinical trialStanislaus V et al.BMC neurology2023Clinical Trial, Phase II
Quality of life improvements following one year of setmelanotide in children and adult patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome: phase 3 trial resultsForsythe E et al.Orphanet journal of rare diseases2023Clinical Trial, Phase III
Efficacy and safety of setmelanotide, a melanocortin-4 receptor agonist, in patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Alström syndrome: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial with an open-label periodHaqq AM et al.The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology2022Randomized Controlled Trial
Prespecified and Integrated Subgroup Analyses from the RECONNECT Phase 3 Studies of BremelanotideSimon JA et al.Journal of women's health (2002)2022Randomized Controlled Trial
Safety Profile of Bremelanotide Across the Clinical Development ProgramClayton AH et al.Journal of women's health (2002)2022Randomized Controlled Trial
Quality of life outcomes in two phase 3 trials of setmelanotide in patients with obesity due to LEPR or POMC deficiencyKühnen P et al.Orphanet journal of rare diseases2022Clinical Trial, Phase III
Evaluation of synthetic alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogs: An observational study of unregulated, online-available drugsHadeler E et al.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology2022Observational Study
The Patient Experience of Premenopausal Women Treated with Bremelanotide for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: RECONNECT Exit Study ResultsKoochaki P et al.Journal of women's health (2002)2021Randomized Controlled Trial
Digital immunohistological dissection of immune privilege collapse in syringotropic autoimmune diseases: Implication for the pathogenesisShimoda-Komatsu Y et al.Journal of dermatological science2021Observational Study
Efficacy and safety of setmelanotide, an MC4R agonist, in individuals with severe obesity due to LEPR or POMC deficiency: single-arm, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trialsClément K et al.The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology2020Clinical Trial, Phase III
Increased phototoxic burn tolerance time and quality of life in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria treated with afamelanotide - a three years observational studyBarman-Aksözen J et al.Orphanet journal of rare diseases2020Observational Study
Altered features of neurotransmitters: NPY, α-MSH, and AgRP in type 2 diabetic patients with hypertensionLi B et al.The Journal of international medical research2020Observational Study
Acute assessment of subjective appetite and implicated hormones after a hypnosis-induced hallucinated meal: a randomized cross-over pilot trialCioffi I et al.Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders2020Randomized Controlled Trial
Afamelanotide implants and narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy for the treatment of nonsegmental vitiligo in AsiansToh JJH et al.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology2020Randomized Controlled Trial
Bremelanotide for the Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: Two Randomized Phase 3 TrialsKingsberg SA et al.Obstetrics and gynecology2019Randomized Controlled Trial
Responder Analyses from a Phase 2b Dose-Ranging Study of BremelanotideAlthof S et al.The journal of sexual medicine2019Randomized Controlled Trial

More cited research

Conditions researched

Related compounds

FAQ

What is Alpha-MSH?

A 13-amino-acid hormone that drives skin pigmentation and calms inflammation; afamelanotide (Melanotan I) is an analog.

How many registered human trials study Alpha-MSH?

The PeptideWhiz trial index lists 2 registered trials for Alpha-MSH, the most recent from 2018.

How much published research exists on Alpha-MSH?

The PeptideWhiz paper index links 81 PubMed papers to Alpha-MSH; by study type, 104 human and 113 animal studies.

Which conditions is Alpha-MSH researched for?

Bursitis, Acne, Atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease & high blood pressure, Concussion, traumatic brain injury & stroke recovery, Fat loss, obesity & body recomposition, Fatty liver & elevated liver enzymes, Immune system (general), Insulin resistance, prediabetes & type 2 diabetes, Kidney protection (CKD, diabetic kidney, lupus kidney), Sexual function & libido (women and men), Skin, hair loss, wounds & mast-cell/histamine reactivity.

Research and education only. Not medical advice. No dosing guidance. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov registry and PubMed via the PeptideWhiz index (204,289 studies).

Reported dosing ranges from research