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Small molecule (not a peptide)Mostly animalNot FDA approved

SLU-PP-332

SLU-PP-332

Last reviewed October 27, 2026 · 14 sources · Written for general readers · Compare with another compound →

The bottom line

SLU-PP-332 is a lab chemical, not a peptide, that switches on proteins called ERRs. In mice it raised endurance, limited fat gain and helped failing hearts and aging kidneys. It has never been given to a person in a published study, so the idea that it works like exercise in a pill is unproven in humans, and WADA's 2027 list bans it by name.

Where the evidence stands

What it is

SLU-PP-332 is a small molecule made by researchers as a lab tool, not a peptide. It switches on all three estrogen related receptors (ERRs), with the strongest effect on ERR alpha.[1]

ERRs are switches inside cells that help control how mitochondria, the cell's power plants, make energy.[1]

In a 2026 mouse study, SLU-PP-332 was given by injection into the belly, while a newer version from the same group, SLU-PP-915, also worked when swallowed.[2] A 2026 chemistry study found SLU-PP-332 dissolves very poorly in water, one reason the group is building improved versions.[3]

Name
SLU-PP-332 (SLU-PP-332)
Other names
ERR agonist, exercise mimetic
Type
Small molecule (not a peptide)

What it does in the body

SLU-PP-332 does not occur in nature. It binds and switches on ERR alpha, beta and gamma, which are proteins that turn on genes for burning fat and building mitochondria, much like what happens in muscle after aerobic exercise.[1] Everything known about its effects comes from cells and mice.

This is the biology, area by area. A change measured in the body, like a higher blood level, does not always mean a person feels a benefit. The claims check below covers that.

Energy and cells

Lab finding

In mouse muscle cells in a dish, SLU-PP-332 raised mitochondria activity and the rate at which cells used oxygen.[1] In rat heart cells and mouse muscle cells, drugs from this ERR family also switched on TFEB, a master gene for autophagy, the cell's recycling system.[4]

Muscle and strength

Seen in animals

In mice, about 10 days of treatment shifted muscle toward type IIa fibers, the kind built for endurance, and the mice ran longer. The effect needed ERR alpha.[1] Muscle cells taken from 10 inactive older women and treated in a dish showed less stress and aging and formed fibers better.[5] No one has measured its effect on a living person's muscle.

Fat and appetite

Seen in animals

In obese mice and in mice bred to overeat, SLU-PP-332 raised energy use and fat burning, cut fat buildup and improved the response to insulin.[6] Fat and weight have never been measured in people taking it.

Heart and blood vessels

Seen in animals

In mice with heart failure from pressure overload, SLU-PP-332 and a sister compound improved pumping, reduced scarring and helped more mice survive, without changing heart size. The heart effect ran mainly through ERR gamma and better use of fat as fuel.[7]

Kidneys

Seen in animals

ERR levels were lower in aging human and mouse kidneys. In 21 month old mice, eight weeks of SLU-PP-332 reversed age related protein leakage into urine, loss of filter cells, mitochondria problems and inflammation.[8]

Liver and breakdown

Lab finding

When mixed with human liver extracts in test tubes, SLU-PP-332 was broken down into 9 products in one study and 22 in another.[9][10] In liver enzyme tests it lasted about half an hour before half was broken down.[3] How long it lasts in a living person is unknown.

How it works

Exercise turns on ERR alpha in muscle. SLU-PP-332 tries to flip that switch without exercise.

  • In muscle cells, it increased mitochondria activity and energy use.[1]
  • In mice, it switched on a gene program similar to aerobic exercise, and this effect needed ERR alpha.[1]
  • In the heart, its benefits in mice depended mainly on a related switch, ERR gamma.[7]
  • In mouse muscle, it turned on an exercise linked gene called Ddit4 as much as or more than treadmill running did.[2]

These effects are shown in cells and mice only. A 2026 review of the research concluded human trials are still needed.[11]

What the research shows

We keep animal and human evidence apart. A result in animals is a reason to study something in people, not proof that it works in people.

Animal and lab studies

Promising results in mice, nothing in people

  • Mice given SLU-PP-332 grew more endurance type muscle fibers and could run longer, and the gain depended on ERR alpha.[1]
  • In obese mice, it increased energy and fat burning, reduced fat gain and improved insulin sensitivity.[6]
  • In mice with heart failure, it and a related compound improved heart pumping, reduced scarring and improved survival without changing heart size.[7]
  • In 21 month old mice, eight weeks of treatment reversed several signs of kidney aging, including protein leaking into urine and inflammation.[8]
  • A 2026 study found a newer swallowed version, SLU-PP-915, matched its endurance effect in mice and added to the gene effects of exercise training.[2]
  • A 2026 review of studies from 2020 to 2024 covered only animal and cell research and concluded that human trials are still needed.[11]

Limit: All animal studies are in mice, and nearly all come from one research group that is also developing newer versions.

Human studies

No human studies

  • We found no published study in which a person was given SLU-PP-332, so its effects and side effects in people are unknown. A 2026 review agreed that clinical trials are still needed.[11]
  • The closest work used human cells. Muscle samples came from 20 women having hip replacement, 10 active and 10 inactive. Inactive women had lower levels of ERR alpha and related energy proteins. Muscle cells from inactive women treated with SLU-PP-332 in a dish showed less stress and formed muscle fibers better.[5]
  • Kidney tissue from older people had lower ERR levels than younger tissue, which is part of why researchers think switching ERRs on might help aging kidneys. No person was treated.[8]
  • In 2026, anti doping scientists mixed SLU-PP-332 with human liver extracts in test tubes to learn how the body breaks it down. One study found 9 breakdown products and another found 22, to help build doping tests.[9][10]

Limit: Test tube and dish work with human cells cannot show what happens when a person takes the drug.

Claims check

The most common claims about this compound, and what studies actually found. Verdicts rate the evidence, not whether you should use it.

Exercise in a pill that boosts endurance

Only in animals

Mice given SLU-PP-332 grew more endurance type muscle fibers and could run longer.[1] A 2026 mouse study confirmed the endurance effect and found it similar for the newer swallowed version.[2] No person has been tested.

Burns fat and causes weight loss

Only in animals

In obese mice, SLU-PP-332 increased energy burning and fat burning and reduced fat buildup and obesity.[6] No human study has measured weight or fat.

Improves insulin sensitivity

Only in animals

In two mouse models of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of problems including obesity and high blood sugar, it improved how well the body responded to insulin.[6] This has not been tested in people.

Prevents muscle loss with age

Only in animals

Muscle cells taken from 10 inactive older women and treated in a dish showed less cell stress and aging and formed muscle fibers better.[5] No living person or animal was tested for muscle loss in that study, and no human was given the drug.

Protects the heart

Only in animals

In mice with heart failure caused by pressure overload, SLU-PP-332 and a related compound improved heart pumping, reduced scarring and improved survival.[7] No human data exist.

Slows aging

Only in animals

In 21 month old mice treated for eight weeks, it reversed age related protein loss in urine, mitochondria problems and inflammation in the kidney.[8] Lifespan has not been tested, and no human data exist.

Safe to use and not tested for in sport

Not tested

No safety study in people exists.[11] Anti doping labs published ways to find its breakdown products in 2026, and WADA's 2027 list names SLU-PP-332 as a banned metabolic modulator.[10][12]

Known risks and side effects

  • Unknown safety in people. It was made as a research tool and has never been tested in a published human study.[1][11]
  • Acts on many organs. ERRs control energy use in muscle, heart and kidney, so effects are not limited to fat or muscle.[7][8]
  • Poor drug like properties. It dissolves very poorly in water, and in liver enzyme tests about half was broken down within about half an hour. How much reaches the body, and for how long, has never been measured in people.[3]
  • Unregulated products. It is not an FDA approved drug and is not on FDA's Category 2 compounding list.[13] Anything sold online as a research chemical has had no FDA check of identity, purity or strength.
  • Banned by name in sport. WADA's 2026 list bans unapproved drugs under its S0 class, and the 2027 list now names SLU-PP-332 and SLU-PP-915 directly as banned metabolic modulators.[14][12] Anti doping labs have published methods to detect its breakdown products.[10]

Regulatory status

Today: SLU-PP-332 is not approved by FDA for any use and does not appear on FDA's Category 2 list as of April 22, 2026.[13] Today WADA's S0 rule bans it as an unapproved drug, and from January 1, 2027 WADA's list names it, along with SLU-PP-915 and related substances, as a banned metabolic modulator at all times.[14][12]

  1. Researchers first describe SLU-PP-332 as an exercise mimic that boosts endurance in mice.[1]
  2. An anti doping study identifies 22 breakdown products of SLU-PP-332 to support doping control.[10]
  3. Chemists from the developing group report improved versions, noting SLU-PP-332 itself dissolves poorly.[3]
  4. The 2027 WADA Prohibited List takes effect and names SLU-PP-332 and SLU-PP-915 as banned metabolic modulators.[12]

Sources

  1. Billon C, Sitaula S, Banerjee S, et al. Synthetic ERRalpha/beta/gamma agonist induces an ERRalpha-dependent acute aerobic exercise response and enhances exercise capacity. ACS Chem Biol. 2023;18(4):756-771. PMID 36988910
  2. Billon C, Appourchaux K, Côté I, et al. An orally active estrogen receptor-related receptor agonist, SLU-PP-915, enhances aerobic exercise capacity. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2026;393(1):103787. PMID 41421047
  3. Okda HE, Zhao P, Hayes M, Duvall C, Quillin E, Fang H, et al. Chemical optimization of the exercise mimetic SLU-PP-332 enables insight into estrogen-related receptor signaling. Int J Biol Macromol. 2026;355:151450. PMID 41850449
  4. Losby M, Hayes M, Valfort A, Sopariwala DH, Sanders R, Walker JK, et al. The Estrogen Receptor-Related Orphan Receptors Regulate Autophagy through TFEB. Mol Pharmacol. 2024;106(4):164-172. DOI 10.1124/molpharm.124.000889
  5. Bonanni R, Falvino A, Matticari A, Rinaldi AM, et al. Targeting ERRs to counteract age-related muscle atrophy associated with physical inactivity: a pilot study. Front Physiol. 2025;16:1616693. PMID 40692696
  6. Billon C, Schoepke E, Avdagic A, et al. A synthetic ERR agonist alleviates metabolic syndrome. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2024;388(2):232-240. PMID 37739806
  7. Xu W, Billon C, Li H, et al. Novel pan-ERR agonists ameliorate heart failure through enhancing cardiac fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial function. Circulation. 2024;149(3):227-250. PMID 37961903
  8. Wang XX, Myakala K, Libby AE, Krawczyk E, et al. Estrogen-Related Receptor Agonism Reverses Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Inflammation in the Aging Kidney. Am J Pathol. 2023;193(12):1969-1987. PMID 37717940
  9. Möller T, Krug O, Thevis M. In Vitro Metabolism and Analytical Characterization of SLU-PP-332 and SLU-PP-915: Novel Pan-ERR Agonists With Doping Potential. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2026;40(8):e70039. PMID 41588687
  10. Avliyakulov NK, Sobolevsky T, Ahrens E. Analysis and Identification of In Vitro Metabolites of Exercise Mimetic SLU-PP-332 ERRα/β/γ Agonist for Doping-Control Purposes. Drug Test Anal. 2026;18(3):439-450. PMID 41688415
  11. de Souza-Lima J, Astrosa-Martin BD, Galaz-Rodríguez CA, et al. Pharmacological Activation of ERRα/β/γ as an Exercise Mimetic: Potential Therapeutic Applications. Rev Med Chil. 2026;154(2):237-245. PMID 42024694
  12. World Anti-Doping Agency. World Anti-Doping Code International Standard: Prohibited List 2027. Comes into effect January 1, 2027. WADA 2027 Prohibited List
  13. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks. Content current as of April 22, 2026. FDA Category 2 list
  14. World Anti-Doping Agency. World Anti-Doping Code International Standard: Prohibited List 2026. Effective January 1, 2026. WADA 2026 Prohibited List
Medical disclaimer

This page is educational information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace care from a licensed medical provider. Do not use this page to decide whether to take any substance. Talk to a licensed medical provider first.

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