Dersimelagon, a novel synthetic orally administered non-peptide small molecule that acts as a selective agonist for MC1R, is currently being investigated for the prevention of phototoxicity in patients with EPP and XLP and inhibition of the fibrotic process in patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). This evidence concerns the gene MC1R and autosomal erythropoietic protoporphyria.