Dulaglutide vs SS-31 (Elamipretide)
Side-by-side comparison of key properties, dosing, and research.
GLP-1 / Weight Loss Agonists
DulaglutideAnti-Aging & Longevity
SS-31 (Elamipretide)- Summary
- Dulaglutide (brand name Trulicity) is a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes management and cardiovascular risk reduction. It consists of two GLP-1 analog chains fused to a modified IgG4 Fc fragment, extending its half-life to approximately 5 days. While primarily a diabetes medication, it produces meaningful weight loss and has established cardiovascular outcomes data from the REWIND trial.
- SS-31 (Elamipretide) is a synthetic mitochondria-targeting tetrapeptide that concentrates in the inner mitochondrial membrane and protects cardiolipin from oxidative damage. It is one of the most promising mitochondrial longevity compounds, studied in clinical trials for heart failure, renal disease, and age-associated mitochondrial dysfunction.
- Half-Life
- ~5 days
- ~2–5 hours
- Admin Route
- SubQ
- SubQ
- Research
- —
- —
- Typical Dose
- 0.75 mg → 1.5 mg
- 5–10 mg
- Frequency
- Once weekly
- Daily to several times per week
- Key Benefits
- FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes
- Once-weekly subcutaneous dosing via auto-injector pen
- Reduces HbA1c by approximately 1.1–1.6%
- Modest weight loss of 1.5–3 kg at approved doses
- Demonstrated cardiovascular risk reduction (REWIND trial)
- Established long-term safety profile
- Renal protective effects in CKD
- Restores mitochondrial function and ATP production
- Protects inner mitochondrial membrane cardiolipin
- Reduces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS)
- Improves exercise capacity and reduces fatigue
- Cardioprotective — studied in heart failure trials
- Renoprotective — reduces ischemic kidney injury
- Anti-aging via mitochondrial preservation
- Potential in neurodegenerative disease prevention
- Side Effects
- Nausea (most common, typically transient)
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- +3 more
- Injection site irritation
- Nausea (rare)
- Generally well-tolerated in clinical trials
- Stacks With
- —
- —