Afamelanotide, sold under the brand name Scenesse, is a medication used to prevent phototoxicity and to reduce pain from light exposure for people with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Common adverse effects include injection site reactions, back pain, upper respiratory tract infections, melanocyte naevus, decreased appetite, migraine, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, lethargy, sleepiness, hot flashes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, flushing, development of warts, spots, and freckles, and itchy skin (between 1% and 10% of people).

Uncommon and rare adverse effects include cystitis, folliculitis, gastrointestinal infections, hypersensitivity reactions, changes in appetite, depression, insomnia, balance disorders, lethargy, restless leg syndrome, syncope, photophobia, presbyopia, tinnitus, confusion, palpitations, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, and weight gain.

Afamelanotide was initially named melano-tan (or melanotan-I) due to its ability to tan skin with minimal sun exposure.

[8][9][10][11] Following initial development at the University of Arizona as a sunless tanning agent, the Australian company Clinuvel conducted further clinical trials in that and other indications, and brought the drug to market in the European Union, the United States, and Australia.

[14] In May 2010, the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA, or Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco) approved afamelanotide as a treatment for erythropoietic protoporphyria.

[15] In January 2015, afamelanotide was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of phototoxicity in people with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

[4] In Trial 3, subjects were randomized to receive a total of three afamelanotide or vehicle implants administered subcutaneously every two months and were followed for 180 days.

[4] In October 2019, afamelanotide was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a medicine to reduce pain caused by light exposure (particularly sunlight) as experienced by people with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

[16][4] A number of products are sold online and in gyms and beauty salons as "melanotan" or "melanotan-1" which discuss afamelanotide in their marketing.