Longevity
SS-31 / Elamipretide
Elamipretide · Bendavia · 4-aa · mitochondrial
A mitochondria-targeted peptide in active clinical trials for genuine rare diseases — one of the better-evidenced longevity-adjacent compounds here, but still unapproved.
Reference status
Editorial research · independent review pending · 3 claims graded
What it is
SS-31 (elamipretide) is designed to concentrate in mitochondrial membranes and protect the machinery that produces cellular energy. Unlike most peptides in this library, it has been through real phase 2/3 human clinical trials, developed by Stealth BioTherapeutics for conditions like Barth syndrome and dry age-related macular degeneration.
Trial results have been mixed — some endpoints met, others not — and as of writing it is not an approved medicine anywhere. The 'anti-ageing' framing used in the general peptide community is broader than what any trial has actually tested.
The science, graded
What’s claimed — and how strong the evidence behind each claim actually is.
“Protects mitochondrial function”
Supported by a genuine human clinical-trial programme, though results across trials have been mixed.
Claim-level citation mapping is in progress.
“Improves cellular energy / exercise capacity in specific rare diseases”
Some positive signals in Barth syndrome and related trials; not a general-population finding.
Claim-level citation mapping is in progress.
“General anti-ageing benefit for healthy adults”
No trial has tested this population or this outcome — a marketing extrapolation from disease-specific research.
Claim-level citation mapping is in progress.
Legal and regulatory context
Separate summaries for Great Britain, the United States, and the European Union. These are preliminary research summaries awaiting independent regional review; they are not legal determinations or advice.
Great Britain
Not an approved medicine in the UK or elsewhere. Available only as a research chemical outside formal clinical trials.
This is preliminary regulatory research, not a reviewed legal determination or legal advice.
United States
Regional legal and regulatory review required before publication.
This is preliminary regulatory research, not a reviewed legal determination or legal advice.
- FDA's Concerns About Unapproved Drugs · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
European Union
Regional legal and regulatory review required before publication.
This is preliminary regulatory research, not a reviewed legal determination or legal advice.
- Buying medicines online · European Medicines Agency
What the community says
Respected in longevity-science circles precisely because of its real trial pedigree, even though outcomes have been mixed. Framed as one of the more 'serious' compounds rather than a hype peptide.
Where they’re talking
- Longevity forumsCited for its unusually real clinical-trial history.
- r/PeptidesLower discussion volume than hype-heavy compounds; more science-literate audience.
References
- 1.Supply unlicensed medicinal products (specials) · MHRA
- 2.FDA's Concerns About Unapproved Drugs · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- 3.Buying medicines online · European Medicines Agency