Elamipretide vs PACAP-38
Head-to-head comparison of Elamipretide (Elamipretide (MTP-131, SS-31)) and PACAP-38 (Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide-38 (human PACAP-38)) — benefits, dosing, side effects, research data, and where to buy.
Research Score
| Property | Elamipretide | PACAP-38 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Muscle & Performance | Cognitive Enhancement |
| Full Name | Elamipretide (MTP-131, SS-31) | Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide-38 (human PACAP-38) |
| Molecular Weight | 639.8 Da | 4534 Da |
| Half-Life | 1-4 hours | minutes |
| Amino Acids | 4 | 38 aa |
| Typical Dose | 0.01-0.25 mg/kg/day | 10-100 µg preclinical range |
| Route | Subcutaneous/Intravenous | Intranasal |
| Purity | ≥98% | ≥98% |
| Studies Count | 120 | 650 |
| Research Status | Clinical | Pre-clinical |
Elamipretide Benefits
- ✓mitochondrial protection
- ✓reduced oxidative stress
- ✓improved fatigue resistance
- ✓may support exercise tolerance
PACAP-38 Benefits
- ✓synaptic plasticity
- ✓BDNF upregulation
- ✓neuroprotection
- ✓memory consolidation
Elamipretide Dosing
0.01-0.25 mg/kg/day SC (clinical research)|daily dosing in trials|alternative IV protocols in some studies
PACAP-38 Dosing
0.1-1 nmol ICV in rodents|10-100 µg intranasal in preclinical studies|single-dose or short repeated protocols
Elamipretide Side Effects
- ⚠nausea
- ⚠injection-site reactions
- ⚠diarrhea
- ⚠headache
PACAP-38 Side Effects
- ⚠headache-like effects
- ⚠flushing
- ⚠hypotension
Research Overview
Elamipretide
Clinical and translational studies show elamipretide can improve mitochondrial function and some functional endpoints in mitochondrial disorders. Skeletal muscle research suggests benefits are driven by energy metabolism rather than direct muscle-building effects.
PACAP-38
PACAP-38 is one of the most studied endogenous neuropeptides for protecting neurons from ischemic and excitotoxic damage. Preclinical literature also links it to hippocampal plasticity and learning-related signaling, including increased BDNF expression.
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