Library / SS-31
Approved medicine
SS-31
Mitochondria-targeted peptide · Longevity · Elamipretide
What it is
A small peptide that binds to cardiolipin, a fat in the inner wall of mitochondria, to help keep them working.
What research covers
Trials in heart failure and mitochondrial muscle disease did not meet their main goals. In 2025 the US FDA granted accelerated approval for Barth syndrome, a rare inherited condition. It is not approved for anything else.
Reported side effects
- Injection-site reactions (common)
- Headache
- Dizziness
Not suitable for, or talk to a doctor first
- Pregnancy
Good to know
- "Approved" here applies only to one rare disease.
Legal status
| Australia | Not an approved medicine in Australia. Peptides like this are generally prescription-only (Schedule 4) and need a prescription to import. Check current rules with the TGA. |
|---|---|
| United States | Approved only for Barth syndrome (accelerated approval). |
| Sport | Athletes should check the current WADA prohibited list, which changes every year. |
Rules change. Check with the TGA (Australia), your local regulator, or WADA for sport.
Key references
- Szeto. First-in-class cardiolipin-protective compound as a therapeutic agent to restore mitochondrial bioenergetics. Br J Pharmacol, 2014.
General information, not advice. Talk to a qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing or stopping anything.