SS-31 (Elamipretida): what it is and what the evidence says
A peptide studied for its relationship with mitochondrial function and protection against oxidative stress at the cellular level.
Last reviewed: August 16, 2026 · How we verify this
The ground it plays on
Two very different things live under the same label here: serious research into mitochondria, cellular senescence and DNA repair, and a market of promises built on studies that were never replicated. Telling them apart is most of the work, and this is the area where it matters most to look at who signed each study.
What it is studied for
Cellular energy, longevity, recovery.
There is a distinction that almost always gets lost. A compound being studied for something is not the same as achieving it. And even where it works in a dish or in a mouse, that says little about whether it works in a person or whether the benefit is worth the risk. The section below therefore carries more weight than everything above it.
What the human evidence says
Elamipretide does have randomized controlled trials: Barth syndrome (TAZPOWER and its 168-week extension), primary mitochondrial myopathy (including the phase 3 trial MMPOWER-3) and renal revascularization.
The limitation that matters most
The results are uneven and largely negative: MMPOWER-3 did not meet its primary endpoints and neither did the blinded phase of TAZPOWER. The improvements that get cited come mostly from open-label extensions without placebo. It is an investigational drug, studied only in rare mitochondrial diseases, not in aging or performance.
Regulatory status
Not approved. Investigational.
Status can change and varies by country. Always verify the rules in force where you live before drawing conclusions.
Cautions and context
Ongoing research; clinical evidence developing.
With underlying health conditions, validate suitability with a professional before considering it.
What this page cannot give you
A reference page can take you this far. You know what SS-31 (Elamipretida) is and where its research stands, which already puts you ahead of most readers. Four questions remain that no encyclopedia can answer for you, because the answers depend on your own situation:
- What would you measure beforehand, so that later you could tell whether anything actually changed?
- What would you watch along the way, and how consistently?
- What would you ask a professional, and in how much detail, so you do not walk out with a textbook answer?
- What would make you stop?
That is what the course is for
PeptiXtreme is ${CIF.LECCIONES} lessons that hand out no numbers. Each one ends with your starting point, what to watch along the way, the specific questions you take to a professional and the signals that mean stop. It includes per-module exams, a diploma with a verifiable folio, a record to track how you progress, and a human advisor you can actually write to.
See the course → Or measure your judgment, freeReferences
Every entry links to its record on PubMed, the US National Library of Medicine database. Open them and check. We would rather have a reader who verifies than one who takes our word for it.
- Efficacy and Safety of Elamipretide in Individuals With Primary Mitochondrial Myopathy: The MMPOWER-3 Randomized Clinical Trialhuman Neurology · 2023 · PMID 37268435 →
- A phase 2/3 randomized clinical trial followed by an open-label extension to evaluate the effectiveness of elamipretide in Barth syndrome, a genetic disorder of mitochondrial cardiolipin metabolismhuman Genet Med · 2021 · PMID 33077895 →
- Long-term efficacy and safety of elamipretide in patients with Barth syndrome: 168-week open-label extension results of TAZPOWERhuman Genet Med · 2024 · PMID 38602181 →
- Randomized dose-escalation trial of elamipretide in adults with primary mitochondrial myopathyhuman Neurology · 2018 · PMID 29500292 →
- A randomized crossover trial of elamipretide in adults with primary mitochondrial myopathyhuman J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle · 2020 · PMID 32096613 →
- First-in-class cardiolipin-protective compound as a therapeutic agent to restore mitochondrial bioenergeticsreview Br J Pharmacol · 2014 · PMID 24117165 →
- Elamipretide: A Review of Its Structure, Mechanism of Action, and Therapeutic Potentialreview Int J Mol Sci · 2025 · PMID 39940712 →
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Frequently asked questions
What is SS-31 (Elamipretida)?
A peptide studied for its relationship with mitochondrial function and protection against oxidative stress at the cellular level. It is studied within the area of longevity/cellular.
Is there human evidence for SS-31 (Elamipretida)?
Elamipretide does have randomized controlled trials: Barth syndrome (TAZPOWER and its 168-week extension), primary mitochondrial myopathy (including the phase 3 trial MMPOWER-3) and renal revascularization.
Is it approved by any health agency?
Not approved. Investigational.
What is the dose of SS-31 (Elamipretida)?
We do not publish dosages. This is not an oversight. No single figure works for everyone: the regimen depends on a person's medical history, on whatever medication they already take, and on the goal they are chasing, which is something a professional weighs with the case in front of them. What you can build is the ability to walk into that appointment knowing what to ask.
Where can I learn to evaluate this properly?
This page tells you what SS-31 (Elamipretida) is and what the evidence says. The PeptiXtreme course teaches the other half: what you would measure before considering anything, what you would watch, the specific questions you would take to a professional and when you would stop.