Elamipretide to improve physical function and healthy aging
Open-Label, Single-Arm Phase 2a Pilot Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of a Daily Subcutaneous Dose of Elamipretide in Older Adults
This study will try daily elamipretide injections for four weeks to see if the drug is safe and improves mobility, thinking, and blood inflammation markers in older adults with lower physical function.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 65 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Washington Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Seattle, Washington) |
| Trial ID | NCT07275424 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This Phase 2a, open-label, single-arm study will enroll about 30 ambulatory older adults (65–80 years) with lower aerobic capacity. Participants will self-administer daily subcutaneous elamipretide for four weeks with baseline and post-intervention clinic visits, a midpoint phone check, and a two-week follow-up after the last injection. The primary objective is to measure safety and tolerability, while secondary endpoints examine changes in blood inflammatory biomarkers and standardized cognitive and mobility tests. The trial is conducted at the University of Washington following GCP and FDA-aligned procedures.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are ambulatory adults aged 65–80 with lower VO2peak (≤37.3 ml/kg/min for men, ≤25.7 ml/kg/min for women), who can self-administer or have a caregiver for injections, speak English, and are not in a regular exercise program.
Not a fit: People younger than 65 or older than 80, those who already follow a regular exercise routine, those taking excluded supplements or medications, or those with serious comorbidities may not receive benefit from this small, short-duration study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, elamipretide could improve mobility and cognitive performance and lower inflammatory biomarkers in older adults, supporting larger trials.
How similar studies have performed: Elamipretide has shown promise in preclinical work and small clinical studies targeting mitochondrial function, but clinical findings have been mixed and its application to healthy aging remains relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or female aged ≥65 and ≤80 years 2. VO2peak ≤ 37.3ml/kg/min for men and ≤ 25.7ml/kg/min for women as evidence of lower mitochondrial function 3. Are ambulatory and able to perform activities of daily living without assistance 4. Have sufficient venous access for clinical blood draw 5. Willing and able to self-administer injections or have a willing caregiver who is able to administer injections. 6. Speak and read English 7. Have no established daily exercise routine and are not participating in any exercise training program or physical hobby (i.e. dance, martial arts, yoga) and agree to not start any such activities during the course of study participation 8. Willing to avoid the following medications during the course of the study: Anti-seizure medications * Coenzyme Q10, creatine, L-carnitine, and other supplements intended to increase muscle mass, energy or function * Muscle relaxants * Systemic steroid or immunosuppressive use * Opioids (regular use of \> 10 mg/day morphine equivalents) 9. No known allergies/adverse effects from Fexofenadine 10. Provide documentation of informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. Have significant disease(s) or condition(s) which, in the opinion of the investigator, may put the subject at risk because of their participation in the study or may influence either the results of the study or the subject's ability to participate in the study 2. Presence of severe renal disease (eGFR \<30 mL/min) or hepatic disease (aspartate aminotransferase \[AST\] or alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\] \>2x the upper limit of normal) as evidenced by laboratory results at Screening. 3. Have a history of rhabdomyolysis 4. Have been hospitalized within 3 months prior to screening for major atherosclerotic events (e.g., myocardial infarction, target-vessel revascularization, coronary bypass surgery or stroke) or other major medical condition (as deemed by the primary investigator) 5. Are currently enrolled in a clinical study involving an investigational product or non- approved use of a drug or device or concurrently enrolled in any other type of medical research judged to be scientifically or medically incompatible with this study 6. Have participated within the last 30 days of screening visit in a clinical study involving an investigational product. \-
Where this trial is running
Seattle, Washington
- University of Washington — Seattle, Washington, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: David Marcinek, PhD — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Sophia Liu, PhD
- Email: sophia21@uw.edu
- Phone: 206-543-0209
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.