# SS-31

> Mitochondria-targeted cardiolipin-binding tetrapeptide.

- Also known as: Elamipretide, Bendavia
- Class: Mitochondrial, Longevity
- FDA approved: No
- Canonical page: https://www.americanpeptide.com/catalog/ss-31

## Overview

SS-31 (elamipretide) is a synthetic tetrapeptide that concentrates in the inner mitochondrial membrane and binds cardiolipin, stabilizing electron transport chain organization in clinical trials for primary mitochondrial myopathy and Barth syndrome.

SS-31 (elamipretide, formerly Bendavia) is a synthetic tetrapeptide engineered to concentrate in the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it binds the phospholipid cardiolipin. Cardiolipin is essential to the organization of the electron-transport chain, and stabilizing it is the peptide’s proposed mechanism.

Unlike many catalogued peptides, SS-31 has advanced into clinical trials — for primary mitochondrial myopathy, Barth syndrome, and heart failure — though it has not received FDA approval. It is among the most clinically studied mitochondria-targeted compounds.

## Mechanism

Cardiolipin binding; preservation of cristae architecture and ETC efficiency.

## Chemistry

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Molecular formula | C32H49N9O5 |
| Molecular weight | 639.8 Da |
| CAS number | 736992-21-5 |
| PubChem CID | [11764719](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/11764719) |

## Sequence

```
D-Arg-Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH2
```

## Research areas

Studied in: Mitochondrial myopathy, Barth syndrome, Heart failure.

Guides on this site:

- [Mitochondrial & Bioenergetics](https://www.americanpeptide.com/research-areas/mitochondrial): Mitochondria-targeted peptides studied for bioenergetics and cardiolipin.

## Key research

- Cardiolipin binding — concentrates in the inner mitochondrial membrane to stabilize cristae.
- ETC efficiency — studied for preserved electron-transport-chain function.
- Mitochondrial myopathy & Barth syndrome — clinical-trial contexts.
- Heart failure — examined for cardiac energetics.
- Investigational — in clinical trials, not FDA-approved.

## FAQs

### What is SS-31?

SS-31 (elamipretide) is a mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide that binds cardiolipin to stabilize the inner mitochondrial membrane, studied in mitochondrial disease and heart failure.

### What is elamipretide?

Elamipretide is the development name for SS-31; both refer to the same cardiolipin-binding peptide.

### What is it studied for?

Clinical research contexts include primary mitochondrial myopathy, Barth syndrome, and heart failure.

### Is it approved?

No — it remains investigational despite clinical trials. This page is a research and educational reference.

## Latest research

Recent trials and publications mentioning SS-31, pulled automatically from ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed (unfiltered search results, refreshed daily).

### Recent trials

- [FRDA Investigator Initiated Study (IIS) With Elamipretide](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05168774) — COMPLETED · PHASE1, PHASE2 · NCT05168774
- [Evaluation of the Regeneration Capacity of Satellite Cells From the Quadriceps Compared to That of the Diaphragm](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05194631) — COMPLETED · NA · NCT05194631

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Source: AmericanPeptide.com — https://www.americanpeptide.com/catalog/ss-31
Data license: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Attribution: AmericanPeptide.com.
Research reference only — computational and educational content, not medical advice.