Sometimes the most profound medical breakthroughs emerge not from grand theoretical leaps, but from the patient, methodical pursuit of understanding life’s most fundamental processes. In the case of SS-31—now known as elamipretide—we witness the rare convergence of elegant molecular design, rigorous scientific validation, and genuine therapeutic need that defines truly transformative medicine.

The story of SS-31 begins not with a eureka moment, but with a recognition that mitochondria, those cellular powerhouses we’ve long taken for granted, harbor secrets that could unlock treatments for some of humanity’s most challenging diseases. When researchers first synthesized this tetrapeptide with its alternating aromatic-cationic sequence, they weren’t just creating another experimental compound—they were engineering the first member of an entirely new class of therapeutics designed to work at the most fundamental level of cellular energy production.

Continued on our Substack: https://blog.peptide.partners/p/ss-31-the-cardiolipin-guardian-thats