An α-Melanocyte–Stimulating Hormone Analogue in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria

To the Editor: Patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria, a rare inherited disease, accumulate photosensitizing protoporphyrin in the dermis, which results in severe dermal pain and incapacitating phototoxic reactions when the skin is exposed to visible light, primarily blue light (the Soret band, with the strongest absorbance among the porphyrins).1 Current treatments are partially effective at best (unpublished data). A beneficial effect of melanogenesis induced by natural sunlight or by ultraviolet radiation has been described in anecdotal reports.2,3 Afamelanotide (Nle4-D-Phe7–α-melanocyte–stimulating hormone, formerly called CUV1647) is an α-melanocyte–stimulating hormone analogue that induces epidermal melanin formation.4 Here, we describe the responses . . .