Evidence Comparison
MT1 and MT2 share melanocortin origins but should not be treated as interchangeable tanning peptides. MT1 is the historical name for afamelanotide, which has an FDA-approved implant for erythropoietic protoporphyria; MT2 is a different cyclic melanocortin agonist that remains unapproved and has broader receptor activity, including central sexual-function effects in early human research.
Skin & Hair
FDA-approved
Regulatory-grade / large Phase 3
Alpha-MSH analogue and melanocortin-1 receptor agonist used clinically as afamelanotide.
MT1 is unusual among compounds discussed in peptide communities because its established drug form, afamelanotide, is FDA-approved for a specific rare-disease indication. That approval does not transfer to unapproved tanning vials or other online MT1 products.
Open MT1 / Melanotan I / Afamelanotide guide →Skin & Hair
Not FDA-approved
Human pharmacology / early clinical
Nonselective melanocortin receptor agonist associated with pigmentation and sexual-function effects.
Melanotan II has more direct human pharmacology than many research peptides, but it remains unapproved and lacks a validated consumer-use safety framework.
Open MT2 / Melanotan II guide →Save this comparison
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Regulatory status and evidence level are separate ideas. A compound can have meaningful human research and still remain investigational, while an FDA-approved product can have approval only for specific indications and formulations.
BACToBasics also separates direct human intervention evidence from animal, cell, endogenous-biology, or related-molecule evidence so weaker evidence does not inherit the certainty of stronger research.
This page is generated from the same structured evidence records as the main interactive compare tool. Updating a compound's regulatory status, evidence summary, safety context, or source list updates both experiences rather than maintaining separate copies.
Read the Research & Editorial Policy →Evidence behind the comparison
These deep links are generated from the compounds in this comparison, so research and development pages stay connected as the underlying datasets grow.
BACToBasics provides educational information only. Comparison pages are not medical advice, dosing advice, treatment guidance, anti-doping advice, or recommendations to use any compound.