SS-31 protocol
SS-31 / elamipretide (mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide). Dosing on this page comes from a published human trial or an approved product label, cited below.
How SS-31 works
A cell-permeable tetrapeptide that concentrates selectively at the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it associates with cardiolipin. Stabilising cardiolipin is proposed to improve cristae structure and electron-transport efficiency.
SS-31 dosing schedule
From the clinical development programme in primary mitochondrial myopathy and related indications. This is one of the better-evidenced compounds in the longevity category — it has run genuine controlled trials, though it has not achieved approval and several trials missed their primary endpoints.
| Phase | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main trial arm | 40 mg | Once daily, subcutaneous | The amount carried through the later mitochondrial myopathy trials. |
| Earlier dose-ranging | 4, 20, 40 mg | Once daily, subcutaneous | Ascending arms used in the earlier phase of the programme. |
Study length: Trial durations ranged from four weeks to 48 weeks across the programme.
Reconstitution and measurement
This part is arithmetic and does not depend on the evidence level. Concentration is vial size divided by the bacteriostatic water you add. Draw volume is your target amount divided by that concentration. Units are draw volume times 100, because a U-100 syringe reads 100 units per millilitre. Common vials for SS-31: 10 mg.
- Wipe the stoppers of both vials with an alcohol swab and let them dry.
- Draw the bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe and inject it slowly down the inside wall of the peptide vial — never straight onto the powder.
- Swirl gently until the solution is clear. Do not shake; foaming and agitation damage peptides.
- Label the vial with the date and concentration, and refrigerate at 2–8 °C protected from light.
Worked example at the calculator defaults: 10 mg + 2 mL of bacteriostatic water = 5 mg/mL, so on a U-100 insulin syringe 1 unit = 50 mcg of SS-31. Change either input and the calculator redoes this for you.
Storage and stability
Supplies math
Whatever amounts your research uses, the planning arithmetic is the same. The calculator runs all of this per compound.
Subcutaneous technique and practical notes
General best practice from clinical injection guidance — the same fundamentals nurses are taught, none of it specific to any compound.
Reported effects
- Injection-site reactions were the most frequently reported adverse event across the programme.
- Several trials did not meet their primary endpoints, which is central context for any claim made about this compound.
- No regulatory approval in any jurisdiction.
Sourcing SS-31
Whatever you are working with, the documentation matters more than the price. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis whose lot number matches the vial you actually receive — a COA for a different batch tells you nothing about yours.
SS-31 at Summit Research Supply → Grade a COA first
Summit is the supplier we feature and an affiliate link. Our COA checklist applies the same way to any vendor.
