SANA (MVD1)

an investigational nitroalkene small molecule that targets creatine-kinase-dependent thermogenesis, with mouse fat-loss data, a small exploratory 15-day human weight signal, and a high-dose renal safety signal in phase 1.

tier B · weight loss · 41 participants across the first-in-human phase 1 program

verdict

SANA has a defined identity, a novel creatine-thermogenesis mechanism, mouse efficacy, and direct human PK, but the phase 1 renal signal makes dose-dependent safety the central fact.

if you're asking what SANA is — this entry covers the small molecule called MVD1 and SANA in the primary paper: 5-(2-nitroethenyl)salicylic acid. it is not a peptide and should not be confused with companies or unrelated products using SANA as a name.

if you're asking whether it has human data — yes. a registered first-in-human phase 1 program enrolled 41 participants across single- and multiple-ascending-dose cohorts and measured PK and safety. body weight was exploratory: the paper reports about 3% loss over 15 days in the six active participants at 400 mg/day. that small result was not an efficacy-powered or confirmatory weight-loss trial.

if you're asking whether it is safe — no broad safety conclusion is possible. two of three participants at the 800 mg single dose developed reversible renal tubular injury, and repeated exposure lasted only 15 days.

if you're asking what the half-life is — the study directly reports a short human terminal half-life range, 1.6 to 1.9 hours after single doses and 1.6 to 2.0 hours after multiple doses. the site uses 1.7 hours as a representative display value, not a protocol interval.

The human regimens below reproduce a first-in-human safety study. They are not efficacy doses or recommendations.

why B-tier

B-tier reflects direct human PK and safety data, a small exploratory 15-day human weight signal, and a substantial mechanistic and animal-efficacy paper. It does not rise to A because the 41-person program was phase 1 rather than a confirmatory efficacy trial, and two of three participants at the highest single dose developed renal tubular injury. Long-term efficacy and safety remain unresolved.

the core tension

SANA has the features that make an early program credible: defined chemistry, target engagement, knockout validation, animal efficacy, registered human PK, a small exploratory human weight signal, and a visible dose-limiting toxicity. It still lacks a confirmatory weight-loss trial and has too little exposure to define long-term safety.

what it is

SANA is the study name used for MVD1, 5-(2-nitroethenyl)salicylic acid, a nitroalkene small molecule with formula C9H7NO5 and molecular weight 209.16 g/mol. No authoritative public CAS was established in the reviewed primary record. Identity is therefore anchored to the exact chemical name and study paper rather than a market synonym.

what it does

The paper reports covalent engagement of mitochondrial and cytosolic creatine kinases, CKMT1 and CKMT2, and stimulation of creatine-dependent thermogenesis in adipose tissue. The pathway was reported as independent of UCP1 and AMPK. Mice increased energy expenditure and lost fat without relying on an appetite-suppression mechanism.

origin

The program grew from research on futile creatine cycling and adipose thermogenesis. The same 2025 primary paper carries the mechanistic chemistry, wild-type and knockout mouse work, chronic animal exposures, and the registered 41-person first-in-human phase 1 study.

why researchers are interested

SANA offers a non-incretin, non-appetite route to energy expenditure and already has direct human PK. That makes it unusually mature beside most research chemicals in the metabolic category. The renal injury at the top single dose shows why first-in-human dose escalation exists and why lower-cohort tolerability cannot be extrapolated indefinitely.

does it work

It increased energy expenditure and reduced adiposity in mice. The phase 1 paper also reported about 3% weight loss over 15 days in six active participants at the highest repeated dose, an exploratory endpoint in a safety-powered study. That is a human signal, not durable or confirmatory efficacy. B-tier reflects real human data with material unresolved efficacy and safety gaps.

claims vs the data

• SANA activates creatine-dependent thermogenesis — preclinical support — chemical engagement, wild-type and knockout experiments, and adipose thermogenesis data support the mechanism in the primary paper.
• SANA is a proven human weight-loss drug — unsupported — the phase 1 paper reported an exploratory roughly 3% weight change over 15 days in six active participants at the highest repeated dose, but that small safety-powered study does not establish durable or confirmatory efficacy.
• SANA was well tolerated at every phase 1 dose — contradicted — two of three participants at the 800 mg single dose developed reversible renal tubular injury.
• the mouse doses identify a human therapeutic range — contradicted — species, route, genotype, diet, and housing temperature materially changed findings; no human-equivalent conversion is supplied.

key facts

• molecular formula: C9H7NO5
• molecular weight: 209.16 g/mol
• amino acids: n/a (small molecule, not a peptide)
• half-life: approximately 1.6 to 2.0 hours in the first-in-human oral phase 1 study
• type: investigational electrophilic nitroalkene and creatine-kinase thermogenesis activator
• CAS: no authoritative public CAS established in the reviewed primary record
• 41 participants across phase 1A and 1B
• 1.6-2.0 h reported human half-life range
• 2 of 3 800 mg participants with reversible renal tubular injury
• 0 completed human weight-loss efficacy trials

frequently asked questions

What is SANA or MVD1?

It is 5-(2-nitroethenyl)salicylic acid, a 209.16 Da investigational small molecule that targets creatine-kinase-dependent thermogenesis. It is not a peptide.

Does SANA cause weight loss?

It reduced adiposity in mouse obesity models. In phase 1, the paper reported an exploratory weight loss of about 3% over 15 days in six active participants at the highest repeated dose. The study was powered for safety and PK, so this is not durable or confirmatory human efficacy.

What is SANA's human half-life?

The phase 1 paper reports approximately 1.6 to 2.0 hours across single and repeated oral cohorts. The site displays 1.7 hours as a representative direct human value.

What happened at 800 mg in phase 1?

Two of three participants developed reversible renal tubular injury. That is a direct human dose-limiting safety signal, not an animal extrapolation.

Is SANA approved?

No. It remains investigational and is not approved anywhere for weight loss or another indication.

related peptides

• ATX-304 (formerly O304) — another investigational oral metabolic small molecule with early human data
• BAM15 — an animal-only energy-expenditure compound acting through direct mitochondrial uncoupling
• semaglutide — an approved appetite-pathway obesity comparator

reptides grades the research record and cites the literature behind every call. research reference only; not medical advice.