Comparison Centre
Two compounds, the same questions, no cherry-picking
Marketing compares compounds on whichever measure flatters them. This compares them on the same fields every time — including the awkward ones like how much human safety data exists. Every score here rates the evidence, not the compound: a higher number means stronger or more mature research, not that something is safer or works better.
Sharing keeps the two compounds you picked.
How to read these scores
Every number here rates the evidence, not the compound. They are editorial 0-100 strength ratings, not percentages, and not a rating out of five stars.
- Human efficacy evidence strength — Higher = more and better-quality human evidence. It does not mean the effect is bigger or that the compound works for you.
- Preclinical evidence strength — Higher = more animal, tissue or cell research. Preclinical results are a starting point, not proof of a human benefit.
- Human safety evidence strength — Higher = more mature, better-documented human safety data. It does not mean the compound is safer than one with a lower number. A score of 80 does not mean “80% safe”.
- Evidence level (L0-L5) — the strongest type of study behind the compound, from anecdote (L0) to large replicated human trials (L5). It is a description of the study evidence, not a quality, safety or recommendation rating.
- Confidence — how likely we think it is that this rating changes as new research lands. Low confidence means the picture is unsettled, not that the compound is bad.
None of these ratings is medical advice, a safety guarantee, or a recommendation to use anything. How we grade evidence.
MA-5 (Mitochonic Acid 5)
A small indole-derived molecule — not a peptide — studied in cells and mice for mitochondrial disease. No human trial evidence in our record.
SS-31 / Elamipretide
A mitochondria-targeting peptide with a narrow accelerated approval and a much broader set of unproven anti-ageing claims.
How far human research has progressed
MA-5 (Mitochonic Acid 5)
Preclinical — patient-derived cell work and mouse models of mitochondrial diseaseSS-31 / Elamipretide
Approved for one rare disease; investigational or unestablished elsewhereClaim-specific benefit evidence
A human exposure study or trial registration does not establish that the claimed benefit occurs.
MA-5 (Mitochonic Acid 5)
Not separately assessed; see the full profile.SS-31 / Elamipretide
Not separately assessed; see the full profile.Human research context
MA-5 (Mitochonic Acid 5)
Preclinical — patient-derived cell work and mouse models of mitochondrial diseaseSS-31 / Elamipretide
Approved for one rare disease; investigational or unestablished elsewhereHuman efficacy evidence strength
Higher = more and better-quality human evidence. It does not mean the effect is bigger or that the compound works for you.
MA-5 (Mitochonic Acid 5)
SS-31 / Elamipretide
Preclinical (animal / lab) evidence strength
Higher = more animal, tissue or cell research. Preclinical results are a starting point, not proof of a human benefit.
MA-5 (Mitochonic Acid 5)
SS-31 / Elamipretide
Human safety evidence strength
Higher = more mature, better-documented human safety data. It does not mean the compound is safer than one with a lower number.
MA-5 (Mitochonic Acid 5)
SS-31 / Elamipretide
Regulatory status (legal position, not proof it works)
MA-5 (Mitochonic Acid 5)
Check jurisdiction-specific details in the profile.
Not an approved medicine. The curated record establishes academic cell and animal research, not a licensed product or an established human trial programme.
SS-31 / Elamipretide
Named regulators: FDA (US)
On 19 September 2025 the FDA granted accelerated approval to Forzinity (elamipretide) injection to improve muscle strength in patients with Barth syndrome weighing at least 30 kg — based on a surrogate endpoint, with a confirmatory trial still required. That approval says nothing about general anti-ageing, athletic or longevity use, where it remains unapproved and unestablished. On 24 August 2026 the FDA issued warning letters to Royal Peptides LLC, Peptide Partners LLC and TXP Innovations LLC (Tex Peptides) identifying vendor products labelled 'SS-31 (Elamipretide)' as unapproved new drugs; those products are not the approved Forzinity medicine, and FDA noted that injectable products sold this way are especially concerning because injection bypasses key body defences.
Common claims
MA-5 (Mitochonic Acid 5)
- · Restores cellular energy production
- · Longevity and anti-ageing benefit
- · Treats mitochondrial dysfunction and fatigue
SS-31 / Elamipretide
- · Restores youthful mitochondrial function
- · Improves endurance and recovery
- · Slows ageing
- · Improves heart and kidney outcomes
How settled our evidence rating is
MA-5 (Mitochonic Acid 5)
SS-31 / Elamipretide
Cancer-related questions raised by the biology
These are theoretical or monitored questions raised by how a compound works. They are not evidence that it causes cancer.
MA-5 (Mitochonic Acid 5)
Not established. No human data exist, and we make no claim about cancer risk or benefit in either direction.SS-31 / Elamipretide
No established human cancer signal. Improving mitochondrial efficiency has theoretical bidirectional implications in tumour metabolism, but nothing demonstrated clinically.What this adds up to, in plain English
MA-5 (Mitochonic Acid 5)
The interesting work is in animals and lab studies. Treating it as an established human treatment is not supported by evidence.SS-31 / Elamipretide
Preliminary human observations exist, but they may not establish a treatment-attributable benefit.A comparison is not a recommendation