This is educational information, not medical advice, and The Peptide University does not sell peptides, supplies, or supplements. Many compounds discussed here are sold as “research chemicals” and are not approved for human use outside of clinical trials. Laws vary by country, and nothing here is a recommendation to obtain or use anything. Talk to a qualified clinician about your own situation.
SS-31, developed as elamipretide, is a lab-made tetrapeptide that targets mitochondria. It's investigational — it has been through clinical trials but is not FDA-approved.
How it works
It binds cardiolipin in the inner mitochondrial membrane, which helps stabilize membrane structure, lower reactive oxygen species (ROS), and support sustained ATP (energy) production.
The evidence
Among mitochondrial peptides it has the strongest clinical data — Phase 2 and 3 trials in conditions like Barth syndrome, primary mitochondrial myopathy, and heart failure, plus a rare-disease designation. Results have been mixed across trials, which is itself informative.
Safety
As a compound studied under medical supervision, it has a developing safety profile from trials (injection-site reactions among reported effects). Research-chemical “SS-31” is not the trial product and carries the usual purity/identity uncertainty.
FAQ
QIs elamipretide the same as SS-31?
Yes — elamipretide is the clinical name for SS-31.
QIs it approved?
No — it's investigational, having been through trials without full approval as of writing.
Sources
This profile summarizes the following. Follow the links to read the originals — and remember that summaries age, so check for newer information.
Inclusion here is not endorsement of any source's claims; several are cited so you can compare how different outlets characterize the same evidence.
Questions & comments
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