Claimed effect · SS-31 (elamipretide)

Does SS-31 (elamipretide) help with heart failure?

D
Grade D — no human evidence1 phase 2 RCT (n=71) · effect size: not measurable
Short answerNo human evidence. As of 3 September 2026, only 1 phase 2 RCT (n=71) exists for SS-31 (elamipretide) for heart failure. PROGRESS-HF tested four weeks of daily elamipretide against placebo and found no improvement in left-ventricular end-systolic volume.

What the studies show

PROGRESS-HF tested four weeks of daily elamipretide against placebo and found no improvement in left-ventricular end-systolic volume.

“Elamipretide was well tolerated but did not improve LVESV at 4 weeks in patients with stable HFrEF compared with placebo.”

Verbatim, from the abstractButler J, et al. Effects of elamipretide on left ventricular function in patients with HFrEF: the PROGRESS-HF phase 2 trial. J Card Fail, 2020;26:429–437

Animal studies, cell studies, or anecdotes only. This is where almost every viral peptide sits. Promising and proven are different words for a reason.

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In context

SS-31, developed as elamipretide, is a four-amino-acid peptide that concentrates in mitochondria and binds cardiolipin, a lipid of the inner membrane. After a decade of trials it was approved in the United States in September 2025 for Barth syndrome, an ultra-rare genetic disease — on the strength of an open-label extension, since its randomised crossover missed both primary endpoints. Larger randomised trials in primary mitochondrial myopathy and in heart failure were negative. It is a genuine, narrowly approved medicine, not a general 'mitochondrial' or anti-ageing treatment.

SS-31 (elamipretide) is approved (rx, us; barth syndrome only). Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.

Questions

Is SS-31 (elamipretide) proven to help with heart failure?
No. There is no human evidence for it (1 phase 2 RCT (n=71)); the claim rests on animal or cell studies and LYO grades it D.
What studies are behind the grade?
PROGRESS-HF tested four weeks of daily elamipretide against placebo and found no improvement in left-ventricular end-systolic volume.
Is SS-31 (elamipretide) approved for this?
SS-31 (elamipretide) is an approved medicine (Approved (Rx, US; Barth syndrome only)); whether this particular outcome is a licensed indication is stated on the compound page's regulation section.

Other outcomes for SS-31 (elamipretide)

Written and maintained by LYO Research — how pages are written and checked. Reviewed 3 September 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →