Day in the sun for EpiTan

The anti-sunburn drug Melanotan has turned a pallid lifesaver into a bronzed god, according to initial results from trials conducted at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

The drug, from Melbourne-based EpiTan, is aimed at outdoor sporting types who wish to expose themselves but who have previously been unusually sensitive to sunburn, or who are worried about the onset of melanoma if they tan the usual way -- using sunlight.

The drug stimulates the production of melanin in the skin through the use of an alpha-MSH hormone, resulting in darker-looking skin just like a normal tan. Importantly, it allows a tan to develop without exposure to harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation typically required to ensure the bronzed, outdoor look.

Prof Ross Barnetson, head of the trial at the Royal Prince Alfred, said he believed Melanotan could contribute to the reduction of skin cancer in Australia.

Barnetson noted that people would always want a tan, and the new drug allowed tanning without the previously required UV damage from the sun. Melanotan directly stimulates the melanocytes to produce melanin, accelerating the tanned look without undue exposure being needed.

"Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world and it is a very expensive problem. I think Melanotan will cut down the incidence of skin cancer in the long term," he said.

EpiTan managing director, Dr Wayne Millen, said the potential sales of such a tanning drug, likely to be administered by implant, were very large.

"This drug has good commercial prospects, and has the potential to be used in the cosmetic industry also sitting on its back-burner," he said.

"It is likely we would be able to market a product at the end of 2005. This will be another bullet in the anti-cancer armoury, along with slip-slop-slap, towards helping people from getting melanomas," he said.

In a press statement, one competitive surfer who took part in the Phase II human trials said that since taking Melanotan he had developed a very good tan and was not burning at all when out in the sun: "I used to have quite pale skin, especially on my face and my upper chest but now have developed a healthy tan. It's been excellent."