Elamipretide · mitochondrial-targeted tetrapeptide
SS-31
Trial Investigational drug
What it is
SS-31 (elamipretide) is a tetrapeptide that associates with cardiolipin on the inner mitochondrial membrane. It has been in clinical development for mitochondrial and cardiorenal indications — a different object than a research vial with the same nickname.
Benefits in plain language
What researchers and reference users usually mean when they talk about this compound. These are study themes and common claims — not a promise that it will do this in you.
- Elamipretide / SS-31 docks on cardiolipin inside mitochondria and is studied for tired, leaky mitochondria.
- Disease trials (heart, eye, muscle) are the serious story. Wellness “mito shots” are a sidecar.
- The hoped-for feeling is stamina and organ-energy, not a pump in the gym.
If a branded, FDA-approved product exists, that label is the only dose that is actually authorized. Research-chemical vials are a different object.
Mechanism of action
Stabilizing cardiolipin-rich cristae is the core story: improved electron-transport efficiency and less ROS leakage in stressed mitochondria, in the sponsor and academic narrative.
Possible side effects / caveats
Trial programs reported injection-site reactions as a leading issue for daily SC use. Efficacy has been indication-specific and mixed. Do not flatten that into a universal “mito protocol.”
Protocol ranges
| Source tier | Amount | Frequency / duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical development (order of magnitude) | Tens of mg SC daily in some programs | Daily | Use the specific trial protocol, not this line, for any medical question |
| Cited research-catalog talk | Highly variable mg amounts | Daily or several times weekly | Unstandardized; identity/purity first |