Thymalin vs SS-31 (Elamipretide)
Side-by-side comparison of key properties, dosing, and research.
Immune SupportAnti-Aging & Longevity
ThymalinAnti-Aging & Longevity
SS-31 (Elamipretide)- Summary
- Thymalin is a polypeptide complex isolated from calf thymus glands (developed by the Russian Gerontology Institute), shown to restore immune function, extend lifespan, and reverse thymic involution. Clinical studies demonstrate improved immune parameters and up to 40% reduction in mortality in elderly patients.
- 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
- Not well characterized as a complex extract; individual peptides have varying kinetics
- ~2–5 hours
- Admin Route
- SubQ, IM
- SubQ
- Research
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- Typical Dose
- 10 mg IM or SC daily
- 5–10 mg
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Daily to several times per week
- Key Benefits
- Restores thymic function and T-cell immunity
- Extends healthy lifespan (documented in long-term studies)
- Reduces infectious disease incidence in elderly
- Normalizes immune parameters in immunodeficiency
- Anti-tumor immune surveillance
- Improves vaccine response in elderly
- Reduces cardiovascular mortality (40% in landmark Russian study)
- Normalizes neuroendocrine function
- 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
- Very well tolerated in decades of Russian clinical use
- Mild injection site reactions
- Rare: mild allergic reaction (natural extract)
- Transient flu-like symptoms on initiation (immune activation)
- Injection site irritation
- Nausea (rare)
- Generally well-tolerated in clinical trials
- Stacks With
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