Also called Elamipretide, Forzinity, Bendavia, MTP-131
A tiny peptide that targets your cells' energy makers, approved for one rare disease.
SS-31, also called elamipretide, is a tiny peptide made of four protein building blocks. In September 2025 the FDA gave it an early (accelerated) approval, as Forzinity, for Barth syndrome, a rare inherited disease that weakens the heart and muscles. Outside that use, people take it hoping to support energy and aging.
Mitochondria are the tiny parts of your cells that make energy, and they rely on a fat called cardiolipin to hold their machinery together. SS-31 sticks to cardiolipin, and in lab studies this keeps the energy machinery working and cuts down on harmful waste. Barth syndrome is a cardiolipin disease, which is why it was tested there.
FDA-approved for: Barth syndrome, to improve muscle strength in patients weighing at least 30 kg (accelerated approval, September 2025, as Forzinity)
FDA-approved
The approval rests on a small Barth syndrome trial, where knee-muscle strength improved over time, and the company still has to confirm real-life benefit in another trial. In a bigger trial in adults with mitochondrial muscle disease, it didn't beat a dummy shot on walking distance or tiredness. There's no good human evidence for anti-aging or performance use in healthy people.
Why: This is the approved dose for patients who weigh 30 kg or more. The label cuts it to 20 mg a day for adults with severe kidney problems (eGFR under 30), since the kidneys clear the drug.
Why: This is what the MMPOWER-3 trial used in adults with mitochondrial muscle disease. People generally handled it, but it didn't meet its main goals.
Start at the low end, and change one thing at a time. If you take medication or have a health condition, check with a doctor first.
Set up for a 10 mg vial. Change any number to match yours. New to this? Read how to mix a vial and mg vs mL vs units first.
Pick your dose and how long you'll run it. We'll count what you need.
Get help right away for swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, chest pain, or a spreading, hot, red injection site.
Approved product: fridge (2–8 °C), don't freeze. Powder: fridge or freezer. Once mixed: fridge, use within about 4 weeks.
FDA: Approved (accelerated approval, September 19, 2025) as Forzinity for Barth syndrome in patients 30 kg and up. Any other use is off-label or unapproved.
Sport (WADA): Not named on the WADA list. Athletes should check with their anti-doping agency before using it.
No. The approval covers one rare disease. In a bigger trial for mitochondrial muscle disease it didn't beat a dummy shot, and there's no solid human data for aging or fitness.
In the Barth trial, every patient on the drug got redness where they injected. It's the most common side effect, and switching spots helps.
40 mg a day is the approved dose for Barth syndrome patients. There's no tested dose for healthy people.
Last checked 2026-10