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Peptide Profile

SS-31

Elamipretide · Bendavia · MTP-131

SS-31 (elamipretide; Szeto-Schiller peptide 31; MTP-131; bendavia) is a synthetic cardiolipin-targeting tetrapeptide that selectively concentrates in the inner mitochondrial membrane through electrostatic interaction with…

Longevity & CellularFDA ApprovedPrescription
Used forlongevity
Half-life
~2-3 hours
Routes
subcutaneous, intravenous

Educational research information — not medical advice. Review primary sources and consult a qualified professional before any decision.

Educational research tools — not medical advice.

Overview

What SS-31 is

About SS-31

Targets cardiolipin in inner mitochondrial membrane; stabilizes cristae structure; enhances electron transport chain efficiency; reduces mitochondrial ROS

SS-31 (elamipretide; Szeto-Schiller peptide 31; MTP-131; bendavia) is a synthetic cardiolipin-targeting tetrapeptide that selectively concentrates in the inner mitochondrial membrane through electrostatic interaction with cardiolipin, where it stabilizes cristae ultrastructure, preserves electron transport chain assembly, and reduces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production to protect against ischemic and metabolic mitochondrial injury. By binding cardiolipin at the inner mitochondrial membrane, SS-31 maintains the protein-lipid interactions required for efficient electron transport chain supercomplex formation, preserving cytochrome c association with complexes I–IV, reducing electron leak, and sustaining the proton gradient required for ATP synthase activity — thereby protecting energy production in cardiomyocytes, neurons, and renal tubular cells under ischemic or oxidative stress. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial published in Circulation Heart Failure demonstrated that elamipretide improved cardiac function in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, and a Phase 2a trial published in Circulation Cardiovascular Interventions provided additional human evidence of mitochondrial protection in the context of renal artery stenosis revascularization. On 19 September 2025 the FDA granted accelerated approval to Forzinity (elamipretide) injection, the first treatment for Barth syndrome, for patients weighing at least 30 kg, administered subcutaneously once daily; the approval was granted to Stealth Biotherapeutics Inc. The accelerated approval is based on improved strength of the muscle used to straighten the leg at the knee — a measure the FDA considers reasonably likely to predict patient benefit but which does not directly assess that benefit — and as a condition of approval the FDA is requiring a post-approval randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to confirm that this translates into patient benefit. The application received priority review, and Forzinity was granted a rare pediatric disease designation. The most common side effects identified in clinical trials were mild-to-moderate injection site reactions; serious reactions have also been reported. This approval is specific to Barth syndrome: elamipretide is not FDA-approved for heart failure, primary mitochondrial myopathy, or geographic atrophy, and research-grade "SS-31" offered by research-chemical vendors is not the approved product and is not a substitute for it. Regulatory status verified against FDA sources on 25 July 2026.

SS-31 Benefits & Research Areas

mitochondrial protectioncardioprotectionenergy productionanti-aging

Research Signals

Population research notes

40s50+

These signals reflect research interest areas, not treatment indications.

Pharmacokinetics

SS-31 half-life calculator

Compound & timing

Half-lifefrom PeptideBase data
Source: "~2-3 hours" · SS-31 (PeptideBase)
to show amount remaining
3 h
0%25%50%75%100%03.16.29.41216time since dose (h)
Plasma decay curve for SS-31: 35% to 50% remaining at 3 h after the dose.
range (~2-3 hours)slower half-life
35%–50%remaining in plasmaat 3 h after the dose
Half-life
2 – 3 h
~97% cleared after
15 h

Model: single-dose, first-order (single-compartment) estimate. Real clearance is multi-compartment and varies by individual and route.

The Research

What the evidence says about SS-31

Research Evidence

based on 10 studies · 2 RCTs · most recent 2026

Regulatory Status

Availability Status
Prescription
FDA Status
FDA Approved
Effective Date
September 19, 2025

Mitochondria-targeting tetrapeptide (elamipretide) by Stealth BioTherapeutics. FDA issued CRL for Barth syndrome NDA 2021 (additional data required). Continued by Mitobridge/AstraZeneca. Investigational.

Regulatory status reflects publicly available information and may change. This is not legal or medical advice.

Research Sources

10 sources cited · 2 strong · 8 weak

2 RCTs · 4 Reviews · 4 Animals

  • Intrarenal Infusion of Elamipretide (MTP-131) During Stenting in Patients With Atherosclerotic Renovascular Disease

    Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions · 2017

    In a phase 2a randomized trial of 14 patients undergoing percutaneous renal artery stenting, intrarenal elamipretide (SS-31) attenuated post-procedure renal hypoxia, increased stenotic kidney renal blood flow, and improved estimated glomerular filtration rate compared with placebo, establishing renal protective activity for this mitochondria-targeting peptide.

    RCTn=14StrongPMID 28916603
  • Elamipretide (MTP-131) Alters the Landscape of Myocardial Lipids and Reduces Oxidative Stress Following Cardiac Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

    Circulation: Heart Failure · 2017

    In a double-blind randomized controlled trial of 36 patients, a single infusion of elamipretide (SS-31/MTP-131) was safe and well-tolerated, with the high dose significantly reducing left ventricular end-diastolic volume (-18 mL, p=0.009) and end-systolic volume, supporting its mitochondria-targeting mechanism for cardiac protection in heart failure.

    RCTn=36StrongPMID 29217757
  • Peroxiredoxin Ⅲ safeguards cardiac function against doxorubicin by regulating mitochondrial quality control via H(2)O(2) detoxification.

    Redox Biol · 2026

    # Summary Research found that peroxiredoxin III (PrxIII), a mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme, protects cardiac cells from doxorubicin-induced damage by regulating hydrogen peroxide levels and maintaining mitochondrial quality control processes. This study demonstrated that moderate mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide levels promote protective adaptations like enhanced mitophagy and mitochondrial fusion, whereas excessive accumulation impairs these protective mechanisms and triggers cell death.

    AnimalWeakPMID 42013545
Show 7 more sources
  • Protective Effect of Mitochondria-Targeted Polydopamine Nanoparticles in Alleviating Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

    ACS Nano · 2026

    # Summary Research found that mitochondria-targeted nanoparticles modified with the SS-31 peptide protected liver tissue from ischemia-reperfusion injury by restoring mitochondrial function, reducing reactive oxygen species accumulation, and suppressing inflammatory responses in animal models. This study demonstrated that SS-31 modification enabled efficient delivery of therapeutic nanoparticles to mitochondria, where they preserved cellular energy production and prevented cell death pathways associated with liver damage.

    AnimalWeakPMID 42057685
  • Elamipretide (SS-31) promotes recovery by preserving mitochondrial bioenergetics and neural remodeling after spinal cord injury.

    Neurochem Int · 2026

    # Summary Research found that elamipretide (SS-31), a mitochondria-targeting peptide, significantly improved functional recovery and reduced tissue damage following spinal cord injury in mice by preserving mitochondrial function and reducing both early apoptotic cell death and chronic inflammatory responses. This study demonstrated that SS-31's neuroprotective mechanisms include maintaining mitochondrial energy production, decreasing oxidative stress, and supporting long-term neural repair processes including axonal and synaptic remodeling.

    AnimalWeakPMID 42082001
  • Targeting Mitochondrial Dysfunction With Elamipretide (SS-31) Improves Skeletal Muscle Performance in a HFpEF Rat Model.

    Circ Heart Fail · 2026

    AnimalWeakPMID 42290373
  • Mitochondrial dysfunction-driven inflammation and β-Cell apoptosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus: mechanistic insights and therapeutic implications.

    Mol Biol Rep · 2026

    # Summary Research found that mitochondrial dysfunction drives inflammation and β-cell death in type 2 diabetes through excessive reactive oxygen species production and impaired cellular energy metabolism. This review identified mitochondria-targeted antioxidants like SS-31 as a promising therapeutic approach to restore mitochondrial quality control and potentially address the disease's underlying mechanisms beyond glucose management alone.

    ReviewTheoreticalPMID 42033524
  • Effect of mitochondrial dysfunction on scar formation after spinal cord injury.

    Front Neurol · 2026

    # Summary Research found that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in scar formation following spinal cord injury by triggering energy collapse, oxidative stress accumulation, and impaired cellular dynamics that promote glial and fibrotic scar development. This study demonstrated that mitochondrial-targeted therapies—including antioxidants like SS-31, metabolic modulators, and strategies enhancing mitochondrial repair processes—show promise in reducing scar formation and supporting neural regeneration.

    ReviewTheoreticalPMID 42147841
  • Microvascular dysfunction and neurovascular signalling impairment in diabetic silent myocardial ischemia.

    Microvasc Res · 2026

    ReviewTheoreticalPMID 42324025
  • Redox imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction in gestational diabetes mellitus: Implications for maternal health, placental function, and offspring metabolic programming.

    Free Radic Biol Med · 2026

    ReviewTheoreticalPMID 42242082

SS-31 Side Effects & Safety Considerations

Research-use compound with limited human data. Evidence strength varies — see the Evidence section.

No structured contraindication profile is available for this compound yet. This compound is FDA-approved — consult the official prescribing information or a qualified clinician.

Common monitoring markers in research protocols

Under clinical review

Being verified by our medical team before we display monitoring guidance for this peptide.

Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health decisions. This information is educational only and does not constitute medical advice.

Third-party testing data

6 verified COAs

Median tested purity

99.8%

Median tested purity of 99.8% across 6 verified third-party lab COAs (interquartile range 99.7%99.8%), as reported by the independent testing labs below. PeptideBase reports these lab-published figures and does not itself test, endorse, or certify any product.

Independent labs
Freedom Diagnostics, Janoshik Analytical
Most recent test
July 2026

PeptideBase provides educational research tools and provider discovery. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescribing guidance, or dosing instructions. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.

Certificates of Analysis

Cross-vendor verified17 COAs on record for SS-31

PeptideBase reports these lab-published figures and does not itself test, endorse, or certify any product. Confirmed by lab results were matched against the issuing laboratory's own records — either the lab served the document, or its own hosted copy matches ours byte for byte. For every other result the badge states what is known about the lab: that it can be checked and no result is recorded yet, that it can't be checked, or that we have not reviewed it.

PeptideBase provides educational research tools and provider discovery. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescribing guidance, or dosing instructions. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions — SS-31

SS-31 (elamipretide; Szeto-Schiller peptide 31; MTP-131; bendavia) is a synthetic cardiolipin-targeting tetrapeptide that selectively concentrates in the inner mitochondrial membrane through electrostatic interaction with cardiolipin, where it stabilizes cristae ultrastructure, preserves electron transport chain assembly, and reduces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production to protect against ischemic and metabolic mitochondrial injury. By binding cardiolipin at the inner mitochondrial membrane, SS-31 maintains the protein-lipid interactions required for efficient electron transport chain supercomplex formation, preserving cytochrome c association with complexes I–IV, reducing electron leak, and sustaining the proton gradient required for ATP synthase activity — thereby protecting energy production in cardiomyocytes, neurons, and renal tubular cells under ischemic or oxidative stress.

mitochondrial protection, cardioprotection, energy production, anti-aging.

Research on SS-31 primarily documents effects related to mitochondrial protection and cardioprotection and energy production and anti-aging. These are areas covered in preclinical and clinical literature — individual response varies and effects depend on context of use.

For SS-31, its FDA status is FDA-approved, and it is available by prescription. Regulatory status reflects publicly available information and may change. This is not legal or medical advice.

38 providers in the directory currently offer SS-31.

Across 31 research vendors tracked on PeptideBase, SS-31 has a median price of about $5.00 per mg, typically ranging $3.64–$6.00 per mg. This reflects research-use vendor pricing, not clinical or prescription costs.

In a phase 2a randomized trial of 14 patients undergoing percutaneous renal artery stenting, intrarenal elamipretide (SS-31) attenuated post-procedure renal hypoxia, increased stenotic kidney renal blood flow, and improved estimated glomerular filtration rate compared with placebo, establishing renal protective activity for this mitochondria-targeting peptide.

SS-31 is featured in the following research stacks on PeptideBase: MOTS-c + SS-31: Mitochondrial Optimization.

Access

How to get SS-31

Market Pricing

31 vendors
$3.64/mgBudget
$5.00/mgMedian
$6.00/mgPremium
$3.64
$5.00
$6.00

Price per mg varies by quantity, vendor type, and formulation. Research use only.

Data verified August 2026 · SS-31 price intelligence

Where to buy SS-31

38 providers
21 Clinics1 Telehealth1 Pharmacy14 Online Vendors1 Physician51 in stock

Research stacks

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Commonly stacked with

Questions to ask your provider

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Last updated

Cite this page

Data last updated August 26, 2026

Free to reference and republish with attribution to PeptideBase. Choose a format:

PeptideBase. (2026). SS-31 — Per-mg Price Benchmark. Retrieved September 11, 2026, from https://peptidebase.io/peptides/ss-31

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