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Draft entry. Written from the cited papers but not yet reviewed by a person. Check the references before relying on any claim.
Salicylate derivative· Mitochondrial

SANA

also MVD1 · 5-(2-nitroethenyl)salicylic acid · 2-hydroxy-5-(2-nitroethenyl)benzoic acid

SANA is a nitroalkene derivative of salicylate, the parent of aspirin, developed for obesity and type 2 diabetes. In obese mice it reduced weight, liver fat and insulin resistance by raising creatine-dependent energy expenditure in fat tissue [1]. MVD1 is the name its first human trial ran under. That trial was a small, 15-day phase 1 study, which reported good tolerability and early effects on body weight and glucose [2].

A genuinely novel fat-burning mechanism with a first human safety study behind it; everything about efficacy in people is still to come.

2D chemical structure of SANA
C9H7NO5209.16 g/molCID 54133300 ↗
Early human trials3 papers · 2023–2026 · 3 journals · 1 in humans
  • meta-analysis
  • RCT
  • trial
  • observational
  • preclinical / case
  • review / patent / other
  • retracted
2023 · preclinical · A nitroalkene derivative of salicylate alleviates diet-induced obesity by activating creatine metabolism and non-shivering thermogenesis.2025 · RCT · A nitroalkene derivative of salicylate, SANA, induces creatine-dependent thermogenesis and promotes weight loss.2026 · preclinical · Activation of the Immunoregulatory Cation Channel TMEM176B by a Nitroalkene Derivative of Salicylate Prolongs Graft Survival.
in its favour
  • + New mechanism, creatine-dependent thermogenesis in fat
  • + Worked in mice at doses up to 40 times lower than salicylate
  • + Phase 1 trial reported good safety and tolerability
watch for
  • − Human data is one short phase 1 trial
  • − Weight effects in people are exploratory, over two weeks
  • − Not approved; sold only as a research chemical

Overview

Salicylate, the ancient drug behind aspirin, showed promise for type 2 diabetes but needed doses too high to use clinically. SANA, 5-(2-nitroethenyl)salicylic acid, was designed as a nitroalkene derivative. In mice with diet-induced obesity it reduced weight, liver steatosis and insulin resistance at doses up to 40 times lower than salicylate [1]. That first report is a preprint, not a peer-reviewed paper.

The peer-reviewed report came in 2025 with a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 1A/B trial. Part A gave single doses of 200 to 800 mg to healthy lean volunteers. Part B gave 200 to 400 mg a day for 15 days to healthy volunteers with overweight or obesity [2]. That trial is registered as ACTRN12622001519741 and was run as MVD1, sponsored by EOLO USA [1].

Mechanism

SANA works differently from the usual fat-loss routes. It is not a GLP-1 drug and not a classic uncoupler. It raised mitochondrial respiration and creatine-dependent energy expenditure in adipose tissue. It worked at thermoneutral temperatures, without uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and independently of AMPK [2]. Depleting creatine abolished its effect in mice. SANA binds the mitochondrial creatine kinases CKMT1/2, and lowering CKMT1 interfered with its action [1].

Separately, it activates TMEM176B, an immune-regulating ion channel. In mice that prolonged skin and heart graft survival through heme oxygenase-1 and regulatory T cells [3]. That is a different research line from the obesity work, but it shows the molecule acts on more than one target.

Direct targetswhat the molecule itself binds or acts on
  • Creatine kinases CKMT1/2activates
    binds mitochondrial creatine kinases; knocking down CKMT1 blocked its effect in mice [1]
    moderate
  • TMEM176B ion channelactivates
    an immunoregulatory channel; activation prolonged graft survival in mice [3]
    unclear
Downstreamconsequences of that action, not targets of their own
  • Creatine-dependent thermogenesis in adipose tissueactivates
    raises energy expenditure without UCP1 and independently of AMPK [2]
    moderate

Safety

risks and cautions, not medical advice

The phase 1 trial's primary endpoint was safety and tolerability, and the authors report that SANA was well tolerated [2]. That is the only human safety data. The longest exposure was 15 days, in small dose groups, so rare or long-term effects are unknown.

Anything sold online as SANA or MVD1 is an unregulated research chemical. Its identity and purity are not checked by anyone.

Adverse effects
reported, not universal
  • Reported as well tolerated in the phase 1 trial [2]; no longer-term data
Cautions
who should think twice
  • Not approved anywhere; product identity and purity are unverified
  • Acts on an immune channel as well as metabolism [3]; the consequences in people are unstudied
Limits of the evidence
what has not been shown
  • Human data is one phase 1 trial of 15 days at most, with weight and glucose as secondary or exploratory endpoints [2]
  • The detailed mechanism work first appeared as a preprint [1]
  • All efficacy evidence beyond two weeks comes from mice

Interactions

documented pairs only, not exhaustive

No interaction studies exist. Because SANA is a salicylate derivative, the obvious question is whether it shares aspirin-like effects on bleeding or on other salicylates. The papers cited here do not address that.

FAQ

Is MVD1 the same as SANA?
Yes. MVD1 is the name its first human trial (ACTRN12622001519741) ran under, sponsored by EOLO USA [1].
Has SANA been tested in people?
In one randomised phase 1 trial of up to 15 days, which reported good tolerability and early effects on body weight and glucose [2].

References

entry last reviewed 2026-09-18
  1. [1]
    A nitroalkene derivative of salicylate alleviates diet-induced obesity by activating creatine metabolism and non-shivering thermogenesis.
    Cal K, Leyva A, Rodríguez-Duarte J et al.Res Sq 2023preclinical · animalPMID 37502859◌ unreviewed
  2. [2]
    A nitroalkene derivative of salicylate, SANA, induces creatine-dependent thermogenesis and promotes weight loss.
    Cal K, Leyva A, Rodríguez-Duarte J et al.Nat Metab 2025RCT · humanPMID 40527924◌ unreviewed
  3. [3]
    Activation of the Immunoregulatory Cation Channel TMEM176B by a Nitroalkene Derivative of Salicylate Prolongs Graft Survival.
    Galliussi G, Noboa J, Leyva A et al.Transplantation 2026preclinical · animalPMID 40691833◌ unreviewed