The SS-31 (elamipretide, also called Bendavia in part of the literature) is a tetrapeptide : D-Arg, dimethyltyrosine, Lys, Phe. It was designed to accumulate in the mitochondrion, not to mimic a hormone.
How it works
The most cited target is cardiolipin, a lipid specific to the inner mitochondrial membrane. By binding to it, the peptide is studied for its effect on the structure of this membrane, the respiratory chain and local oxidative stress.
It is neither a GH secretagogue, nor a GLP-1 analogue, nor NAD+. NAD+ is a cofactor; SS-31 is a peptide that interacts with the membrane where this cofactor is used.
What the research studies
- Mitochondrial models : respiration, cardiolipin, reactive oxygen species.
- Trials on the pharmaceutical molecule : they exist, in a medicine setting. They do not turn a research vial into that medicine.
In the catalogue: 10 mg and 50 mg. Reconstitution schedule: protocols.
Frequently asked questions
Are SS-31 and elamipretide identical?
Yes, it is the same tetrapeptide. Bendavia is another name found in publications. The PeptidLab label shows SS-31 and the vial mass.
Should it be compared with MOTS-c or NAD+?
All three relate to the mitochondrion, through different doors. MOTS-c is a mitochondrial peptide encoded by the mitochondrial genome, NAD+ is a cofactor, SS-31 targets cardiolipin.
Fact sheet
- Last name
- Elamipretide (SS-31, Bendavia, MTP-131)
- Sequence
- D-Arg-Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH2 (tetrapeptide)
- Molar mass
- 639,8 g/mol
- N° CAS
- 736992-21-5
- Receptor or target
- Cardiolipin of the inner mitochondrial membrane
- Regulatory status
- Accelerated approval in the United States in 2025 for Barth syndrome
What the research says
Summary of published data, written by the PeptidLab team. It describes molecules studied in the laboratory or in clinical trials: nothing here is an indication for use.
2014ReviewBr J Pharmacol
Description of the mechanism: the peptide concentrates in the mitochondria, binds to cardiolipin and stabilises the respiratory chain.
2021Phase 2/3Genet Med
TAZPOWER: in patients with Barth syndrome, no difference on the primary endpoint at 12 weeks, but improvements in the open-label extension phase.
2023Phase 3Neurology
MMPOWER-3: in adults with primary mitochondrial myopathy, elamipretide did not meet its primary efficacy endpoints.
Safety: what studies report
- In the trials, the most common adverse effects are injection-site reactions, generally mild to moderate.
Sources
Links to PubMed or to the original document. Articles in English.
- Szeto HH. First-in-class cardiolipin-protective compound as a therapeutic agent to restore mitochondrial bioenergetics. Br J Pharmacol, 2014. PubMed
- Reid Thompson W et al. A phase 2/3 randomized clinical trial followed by an open-label extension to evaluate the effectiveness of elamipretide in Barth syndrome. Genet Med, 2021. PubMed
- Karaa A et al. Efficacy and Safety of Elamipretide in Individuals With Primary Mitochondrial Myopathy: The MMPOWER-3 Randomized Clinical Trial. Neurology, 2023. PubMed
Updated October 2026.
This guide has an informative and scientific purpose. PeptidLab products are intended exclusively for laboratory research and are not intended for human or animal consumption.
