Sunless tanning drug makes you lean, mean and frisky

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Joanne Laucius The Ottawa Citizen

Friday, September 06, 2002 It's been dubbed the "Barbie and Ken Drug." One whiff of it and men get randy. A few more and they get tanned and lean.

No word on what it does for women, although scientists say it makes rabbits wiggle their tails -- which is rabbit-talk for "let's get it on."

Drug companies in the U.S. and Australia are conducting trials on two versions of the drug. The one in the U.S., called MelanoTan, shows promise as an alternative to Viagra without the danger of cardiac problems.

In Australia, scientists are testing EpiTan, which promises residents in that sun-worshipping nation a sunless tan that will help protect the skin against the cancer-causing effects of the sun.

Both products could be produced as an injectable, an inhalant or a skin patch, and could be released for sale within two years.

Mac Hadley, an endocrinologist and professor emeritus at the University of Arizona who is an expert in pigment cell biology, was the head of the team that developed the molecule that triggers the reactions, an artificial version of a naturally-occurring hormone called alpha-MSH.

Originally, researchers wanted to create a molecule that would create a sunless tan to prevent skin cancer. The molecules they built were made of a series of amino acids, strung together like beads on a necklace.

About 20 years ago, Mr. Hadley found his molecule could turn a frog's skin black and a golden retriever's hair dark.

By removing some amino acids in the series, the molecules would be more active and have a more prolonged effect.

"You could improve on nature," said Mr. Hadley. "You could make molecules really active."

He brought some home and injected himself, but forgot that second version was half the size of the original molecule.

"Lo and behold, I got an erection. For eight hours. I was in agony. My wife was laughing and saying, 'I'm getting out of here.' And I said, 'I'm going to be rich.' "

There was one nasty side effect. Mr. Hadley vomited. Anyone who takes that much MelanoTan will simply be too sick to have sex, he said.

So far, about 50 men -- most with erectile dysfunction -- have tried MelanoTan.

Johnnie Johnson, a spokesman for Connecticut-based Competitive Technologies, which owns about 22 per cent of MelanoTan, said both products are entering the third phase of testing, where they will be tested on large groups of human subjects.

It will be at least a year before the drug will go to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said Mr. Johnson, who predicts it will be available as a product for both men and women.

Health Canada has not yet been approached for Canadian approvals, but both of the drugs have been licensed for worldwide distribution, he said. The drug will most likely be available as an inhalant, said Mr. Hadley. "One sniff, one stiff," he jokes. Mr. Hadley believes the drug could be worth $2 billion U.S. a year -- but most of that will come from diagnostic uses.

"I envision our molecule being used in doctors' offices around the world," said Mr. Hadley. "A doctor will just give you a sniff. If it's in your head, it will work."

The drug works for erectile dysfunction at low doses. It won't create a tan unless the user takes a lot. "For the sexual athlete who uses it two or more times a week, pigmentation will also happen," said Mr. Hadley. "You'll certainly know who's using it. They'll all be tanned and lean."

Meanwhile, MelanoTan has not yet been tested on human females, so it's impossible to say if it will make Barbie more libidinous.

"The male and female brain are very different," he points out.

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2002

Answers

Now, just where can I park that tanker truck load that I ordered? ;)

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2002

tanker truck? how many hours of erection does that compute to?

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2002

I'd be happy if I had enough "get up and go" to put in 12-hour days around the house, forget the sex. As it is, I've had by 5 pm most days. Send a Camry-full of that stuff here, okay?

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2002

Barefoot,

With hubby being gone so much of the time (as he is now), we're busy as rabbits when he is home. Sometimes we're so busy, that we need to take breaks just to ... recharge.

Damn, I'll be SO glad when he is out.

You all be very aware for the next few days. Things are not normal right now with what is going on with him. Maybe some of the 'increased chatter' that has been picked up is the cause, but then again it could be something completely different.

Just be safe and every so aware of what is going on around you.

Oh, and BTW, I have heard from the local LEOs that they are on a higher alert until the end of next week (at the earliest), and that they are watching some of the 'Guard' that was relocated here after the Gulf War very carefully.

apoc - staying put within the woods

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2002


This sounds like a disaster waiting to happen for paunchy old men in tiny Speedos...

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2002


well now, there's an image I could have done without today. Or any day, for that matter.

LOL

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2002


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