Company
Stealth BioTherapeutics
Last updated 2026-05-30· 1 min read
Reviewed by the Ultimate Longevity Bible editorial team. Educational reference — not medical advice. See disclaimer.
What it is
Stealth BioTherapeutics develops drugs targeting mitochondrial dysfunction. Lead asset: elamipretide (SS-31), a tetrapeptide that binds cardiolipin in the mitochondrial inner membrane, stabilising cristae structure and improving electron-transport-chain efficiency.
Programmes
- Primary mitochondrial myopathy (Barth syndrome): granted approval pathway in 2024 after positive results.
- Dry AMD: Phase 3 ReNEW and ReGAIN trials read out 2024 with mixed results.
- Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF): pre-clinical and early clinical work.
- Friedreich’s ataxia: investigated.
- Geographic atrophy (AMD subtype).
Why interesting for aging biology
Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of aging. Drugs that improve cristae structure could in principle address underlying mitochondrial decline across multiple age-related diseases. Elamipretide is the most-advanced clinical-stage cristae-targeted drug.
State
Mixed Phase 3 results in AMD have created uncertainty about elamipretide’s broader utility, but the Barth syndrome path provides a beachhead. Future indications depend on hit-or-miss across the mitochondrial-disease landscape.
- Unity Biotechnology — Company.
- GDF-15 — Biomarker.
- SOD2 — Gene.
- Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone / Ubiquinol) — Intervention.
- Methylene Blue — Intervention.
Related entries
Mitochondrial dysfunction, Age-related macular degeneration, Mitobridge, Mitophagy.