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SS-31 Benefits: Claims vs What Studies Show

Benefits people claim for SS-31, set against what published studies measured, and where no study exists.

Medical review pendingMitochondria-targeting peptideUpdated
Strongest evidence
Human RCT
Human / animal studies
12 / 2
in our evidence file (PubMed search, 11 Oct 2026)
FDA status
accelerated approval for Barth syndrome (Sep 2025)

Claimed benefits and what studies show

Each row is an area where people claim a benefit, with the strongest study we summarise behind it. Animal and cell results are labelled and are not human results. User reports are not counted as evidence here.

SS-31 claimed benefits and the studies behind them
ClaimBest evidenceStudies (human / animal)What was measuredPage
EnergyHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 48 / 26MWT in CPEO subgroup (post hoc); 6-minute walk and fatigue at week 24; Walk distance differenceEvidence for energy
StrengthHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 43 / 1Open-label extension, 36 weeks; 6-minute walk at week 168; 6-minute walk vs natural historyEvidence for strength
Heart healthHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 41 / 2Left ventricular volumes; Cardiac function after MI; Mitochondrial functionEvidence for heart health
Eyes and visionHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 41 / 0Primary endpoints (low-luminance BCVA, GA growth)Evidence for eyes and vision
LongevityHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 41 / 0Muscle mitochondrial capacityEvidence for longevity

Strongest study per claim: Energy, Orphanet journal of rare diseases 2024, PMID 39574155; Strength, Genetics in medicine 2021, PMID 33077895; Heart health, Circulation. Heart failure 2017, PMID 29217757.

What the studies measured

SS-31 outcomes in published studies
OutcomeResultStudy typeSource
Primary endpoints (low-luminance BCVA, GA growth)Primary endpoints were not met; a secondary imaging measure (ellipsoid zone loss) progressed 43% less than placebo (nominal P = 0.0034).Human RCTn = 176Ophthalmology science 2025, PMID 39605874
6MWT in CPEO subgroup (post hoc)In a post hoc subgroup with CPEO, walk distance changed by 37.3 m on elamipretide versus -8.0 m on placebo (p = 0.0024).Human RCTOrphanet journal of rare diseases 2024, PMID 39574155
6-minute walk and fatigue at week 24The pivotal randomized trial did not meet its primary endpoints (6-minute walk and fatigue score).Human RCTn = 218Neurology 2023, PMID 37268435
Walk distance differenceWalk distance difference versus placebo was -3.2 m (p = 0.69).Human RCTn = 218Neurology 2023, PMID 37268435
Primary endpoints (6MWT, BTHS-SA) in part 1Neither primary endpoint was met in the randomized crossover part.Human RCTn = 12Genetics in medicine 2021, PMID 33077895
Open-label extension, 36 weeksIn the uncontrolled extension at 36 weeks, 6-minute walk improved by 95.9 m and symptom score fell by 2.1 points.Human RCTn = 12Genetics in medicine 2021, PMID 33077895
Muscle mitochondrial capacityMitochondrial capacity rose right after a single 2-hour infusion (P = 0.055 and P = 0.045); the abstract reports no difference one week later.Human RCTn = 39PloS one 2021, PMID 34264994
Fatigue resistanceNo significant effect on muscle fatigue resistance.Human RCTn = 39PloS one 2021, PMID 34264994
6-minute walkWalk distance was 19.8 m longer on elamipretide (398.3 vs 378.5 m), not statistically significant (P = 0.0833).Human RCTn = 30Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle 2020, PMID 32096613
Fatigue symptomsPatient-reported fatigue and muscle complaints were lower on elamipretide (P = 0.0006 and P = 0.0018).Human RCTn = 30Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle 2020, PMID 32096613
6-minute walk after 5 daysHighest-dose participants walked 64.5 m farther versus 20.4 m for placebo at day 5 (p = 0.053).Human RCTn = 36Neurology 2018, PMID 29500292
Left ventricular volumesHighest dose reduced LV end-diastolic volume by 18 mL and end-systolic volume by 14 mL versus placebo at end of infusion.Human RCTn = 36Circulation. Heart failure 2017, PMID 29217757
6-minute walk at week 168Walk distance improved at every extension time point, by a cumulative 96.1 m at week 168.Human uncontrolled trialn = 10Genetics in medicine 2024, PMID 38602181
6-minute walk vs natural historyTreated patients walked 79.7 m further at week 64 and 91.0 m further at week 76 than natural-history controls.Human observationaln = 27Orphanet journal of rare diseases 2022, PMID 36056411
Muscle strength vs natural historyHandheld-dynamometry strength differed by 40.8 N at week 64 and 56.7 N at week 76 in favor of elamipretide.Human observationaln = 27Orphanet journal of rare diseases 2022, PMID 36056411
Skeletal muscle fibre typeElamipretide restored a near-normal skeletal muscle fibre-type composition in heart-failure dogs.Animal · dog (not a human result)n = 14ESC heart failure 2019, PMID 30688415
Cardiac function after MIEjection fraction was 55.3% with Bendavia versus 49.3% with water six weeks after infarction.Animal · rat (not a human result)n = 54Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology 2014, PMID 25165999
Mitochondrial functionElamipretide improved mitochondrial function in explanted failing human heart tissue.In vitro (not a human result)JACC. Basic to translational science 2019, PMID 31061916
Not shown in any study we cite. Searches behind this page: PubMed search on 2 Oct 2026 for “(elamipretide[tiab] OR Bendavia[tiab] OR "MTP-131"[tiab] OR Forzinity[tiab] OR (("SS-31"[tiab] OR SS31[tiab]) AND (peptide*[tiab] OR mitochondri*[tiab] OR cardiolipin[tiab] OR Szeto[tiab])))”: 526 results. PubMed search on 2 Oct 2026 for “(elamipretide[tiab] OR Bendavia[tiab] OR "MTP-131"[tiab] OR Forzinity[tiab] OR (("SS-31"[tiab] OR SS31[tiab]) AND (peptide*[tiab] OR mitochondri*[tiab] OR cardiolipin[tiab] OR Szeto[tiab]))) AND (randomized[tiab] OR trial[tiab] OR patients[tiab])”: 133 results. PubMed search on 2 Oct 2026 for “(elamipretide[tiab] OR Bendavia[tiab] OR "MTP-131"[tiab] OR Forzinity[tiab] OR (("SS-31"[tiab] OR SS31[tiab]) AND (peptide*[tiab] OR mitochondri*[tiab] OR cardiolipin[tiab] OR Szeto[tiab]))) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab])”: 11 results. PubMed search on 2 Oct 2026 for “elamipretide[tiab] AND (TAZPOWER[tiab] OR "Barth syndrome"[tiab]) AND (randomized[tiab] OR crossover[tiab])”: 6 results.

The muscle strength claim

Claim: it improves muscle strength. The one regulatory result is narrow: the label indicates it to improve muscle strength in Barth syndrome patients weighing at least 30 kg.[21]

In a matched comparison with untreated Barth syndrome controls, elamipretide patients had handheld-dynamometry strength differences of 40.8 Newtons at 64 weeks and 56.7 Newtons at 76 weeks.[10]

The energy and fatigue claim

Claim: it reduces fatigue. The phase 3 trial in primary mitochondrial myopathy did not meet its primary endpoints for the 6-minute walk or total fatigue score.[3]

An earlier crossover trial found less fatigue on a symptom score with elamipretide, while its primary walking endpoint was not statistically significant.[6]

The heart claim

Claim: it helps the heart. A single infusion in heart failure patients lowered left ventricular volumes at the highest dose, compared with placebo.[8]

In rats after a heart attack, treatment reduced scar circumference and improved ejection fraction. This is animal data.[12]

The eye claim

Claim: it protects vision in macular degeneration. The phase 2 trial did not reach statistical significance for its primary end points, though it slowed ellipsoid zone loss.[1]

The anti-aging claim

Claim: it reverses aging in muscle. The only human data are a single-dose study in older adults, where the effect on mitochondrial capacity was gone by day 7.[5]

A PubMed search dated 2026-10-02 for elamipretide combined with fibromyalgia, fatigue or chronic pain returned 19 records, and the evidence file tags none of them as a longevity outcome.

Calculated from search query elamipretide[tiab] AND (fibromyalgia[tiab] OR fatigue[tiab] OR "chronic pain"[tiab]), date 2026-10-02, count 19; source web/src/data/evidence/ss-31.json searches. Formula: count = records returned by the dated PubMed query

More on SS-31

DosageSide effectsResultsHow it works

Common questions

Is SS-31 proven to work?

The strongest study we summarise for SS-31 is human rct evidence, among 15 studies. A trial result is not an approval; see the legal status.

What is SS-31 used for?

SS-31 is the research name for elamipretide, which is FDA-labelled only to improve muscle strength in Barth syndrome.[21]

More on SS-31

DosageDoses used in published studies, with the source for each.CalculatorVial, water and dose to syringe units.Side effectsWhat labels and studies report, and what is unknown.ResultsStudy outcomes and when they were measured.PricePrice per mg and per week from dated listings. No vendor links.How it worksTarget, mechanism and how long it acts, from the label or studies.

Sources

  1. 1ReCLAIM-2: A Randomized Phase II Clinical Trial Evaluating Elamipretide in Age-related Macular Degeneration, Geographic Atrophy Growth, Visual Function, and Ellipsoid Zone Preservation.Ophthalmology science · 2025PMID 39605874Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2Genotype-specific effects of elamipretide in patients with primary mitochondrial myopathy: a post hoc analysis of the MMPOWER-3 trial.Orphanet journal of rare diseases · 2024PMID 39574155Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3Efficacy and Safety of Elamipretide in Individuals With Primary Mitochondrial Myopathy: The MMPOWER-3 Randomized Clinical Trial.Neurology · 2023PMID 37268435Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4A 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 metabolism.Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics · 2021PMID 33077895Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5In vivo mitochondrial ATP production is improved in older adult skeletal muscle after a single dose of elamipretide in a randomized trial.PloS one · 2021PMID 34264994Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6A randomized crossover trial of elamipretide in adults with primary mitochondrial myopathy.Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle · 2020PMID 32096613Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7Randomized dose-escalation trial of elamipretide in adults with primary mitochondrial myopathy.Neurology · 2018PMID 29500292Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8Novel Mitochondria-Targeting Peptide in Heart Failure Treatment: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Elamipretide.Circulation. Heart failure · 2017PMID 29217757Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9Long-term efficacy and safety of elamipretide in patients with Barth syndrome: 168-week open-label extension results of TAZPOWER.Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics · 2024PMID 38602181Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Natural history comparison study to assess the efficacy of elamipretide in patients with Barth syndrome.Orphanet journal of rare diseases · 2022PMID 36056411Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11Effects of elamipretide on skeletal muscle in dogs with experimentally induced heart failure.ESC heart failure · 2019PMID 30688415Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12Bendavia, a mitochondria-targeting peptide, improves postinfarction cardiac function, prevents adverse left ventricular remodeling, and restores mitochondria-related gene expression in rats.Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology · 2014PMID 25165999Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13Elamipretide Improves Mitochondrial Function in the Failing Human Heart.JACC. Basic to translational science · 2019PMID 31061916Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14PubMed search: (elamipretide[tiab] OR Bendavia[tiab] OR "MTP-131"[tiab] OR Forzinity[tiab] OR (("SS-31"[tiab] OR SS31[tiab]) AND (peptide*[tiab] OR mitochondri*[tiab] OR cardiolipin[tiab] OR Szeto[tiab]))) (526 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15PubMed search: (elamipretide[tiab] OR Bendavia[tiab] OR "MTP-131"[tiab] OR Forzinity[tiab] OR (("SS-31"[tiab] OR SS31[tiab]) AND (peptide*[tiab] OR mitochondri*[tiab] OR cardiolipin[tiab] OR Szeto[tiab]))) AND (randomized[tiab] OR trial[tiab] OR patients[tiab]) (133 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  16. 16PubMed search: (elamipretide[tiab] OR Bendavia[tiab] OR "MTP-131"[tiab] OR Forzinity[tiab] OR (("SS-31"[tiab] OR SS31[tiab]) AND (peptide*[tiab] OR mitochondri*[tiab] OR cardiolipin[tiab] OR Szeto[tiab]))) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (11 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  17. 17PubMed search: elamipretide[tiab] AND (TAZPOWER[tiab] OR "Barth syndrome"[tiab]) AND (randomized[tiab] OR crossover[tiab]) (6 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  18. 18PubMed search: elamipretide[tiab] AND (macular[tiab] OR "geographic atrophy"[tiab]) (9 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  19. 19PubMed search: elamipretide[tiab] AND (fibromyalgia[tiab] OR fatigue[tiab] OR "chronic pain"[tiab]) (19 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  20. 20PubMed search: (elamipretide[tiab] OR Bendavia[tiab] OR "MTP-131"[tiab] OR Forzinity[tiab] OR (("SS-31"[tiab] OR SS31[tiab]) AND (peptide*[tiab] OR mitochondri*[tiab] OR cardiolipin[tiab] OR Szeto[tiab]))) AND (adverse[tiab] OR "side effect*"[tiab] OR safety[tiab] OR tolerab*[tiab] OR toxicity[tiab] OR "case report"[pt]) (77 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 11 Oct 2026
  21. 21FORZINITY prescribing information (FDA label)FDA label, DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026

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