Bioenergetic bypass using cell-permeable succinate, but not methylene blue, attenuates metformin-induced lactate production.

The cell-permeable succinate prodrug NV118 bypassed the mitochondrial dysfunction and counteracted the energy deficit associated with toxic doses of metformin. If similar effects of NV118 prove translatable to an in vivo effect, this pharmacological strategy presents as a promising complementary treatment for patients with metformin-induced lactic acidosis.