Longevity
Rapamycin
Sirolimus, Rapamune
Rapamycin is a macrolide originally isolated from a soil bacterium on Easter Island, approved as an immunosuppressant for kidney transplant and for lymphangioleiomyomatosis. It is used off-label as a longevity compound and is the most robustly life-extending drug identified in animal models.
Also known as: sirolimus, Rapamune, RAPA, rapalog
- Status
- Rapamycin is approved by the U.S. FDA and has official prescribing information.
- Evidence
- Approved labeling. Official prescribing information exists, based on clinical trials in people.
- Half-life
- Approximately 62 hours, supporting weekly off-label dosing schedules.
- How it's taken
- Oral tablet or solution
- Mechanism
- Mitochondrial / longevity
How Rapamycin works
Rapamycin binds FKBP12, and the resulting complex inhibits mTOR complex 1, the central nutrient- and growth-factor-sensing kinase. Inhibiting mTORC1 suppresses protein synthesis and cell growth while activating autophagy — the mechanism believed to underlie its effects on ageing. Chronic dosing also inhibits mTORC2, which is thought responsible for much of its metabolic toxicity, and is the reason intermittent dosing is favoured off-label.
What research has looked at
- It extends lifespan in every model organism tested including mice, and does so even when started in late life — the strongest and most reproducible pharmacological longevity result available.
- The mTOR pathway is a central, well-characterised regulator of ageing biology, so the mechanism is not speculative.
- Intermittent weekly dosing has been studied to preserve mTORC1 inhibition while limiting mTORC2 effects, and a trial of an mTOR inhibitor improved vaccine response in elderly participants.
- It has decades of clinical use in transplantation, so its adverse effect profile is thoroughly documented.
Evidence level: Approved labeling. Official prescribing information exists, based on clinical trials in people. These are areas studied or reported, not promised effects.
Reported side effects and risks
- There is no completed trial demonstrating that rapamycin extends human lifespan or healthspan. The entire longevity case rests on animal data and mechanistic reasoning.
- Immunosuppression is its approved effect: increased infection risk and impaired wound healing are expected, and the label carries a boxed warning for immunosuppression, infection and lymphoma risk.
- Metabolic effects including hyperlipidaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and glucose intolerance, largely attributed to mTORC2 inhibition.
- Stomatitis and mouth ulcers are common and dose-limiting.
- It is teratogenic and requires effective contraception.
- Off-label longevity dosing is not standardised, is not supported by outcome data, and requires a prescription.
Sources
- FDA approved-drug listing for sirolimus · U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- DailyMed prescribing information for sirolimus · NIH · DailyMed
- PubMed research on rapamycin mTOR lifespan extension intermittent dosing · NIH · National Library of Medicine
- DrugBank record for sirolimus · DrugBank
Track Rapamycin in Peptide Vault
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Related compounds
Rapamycin FAQ
What is Rapamycin?
Rapamycin is a macrolide originally isolated from a soil bacterium on Easter Island, approved as an immunosuppressant for kidney transplant and for lymphangioleiomyomatosis. It is used off-label as a longevity compound and is the most robustly life-extending drug identified in animal models.
How does Rapamycin work?
Rapamycin binds FKBP12, and the resulting complex inhibits mTOR complex 1, the central nutrient- and growth-factor-sensing kinase. Inhibiting mTORC1 suppresses protein synthesis and cell growth while activating autophagy — the mechanism believed to underlie its effects on ageing. Chronic dosing also inhibits mTORC2, which is thought responsible for much of its metabolic toxicity, and is the reason intermittent dosing is favoured off-label.
Is Rapamycin FDA approved?
Yes. Rapamycin is approved by the U.S. FDA and has official prescribing information. Evidence level: approved labeling. Official prescribing information exists, based on clinical trials in people.
What is the half-life of Rapamycin?
Reported half-life: Approximately 62 hours, supporting weekly off-label dosing schedules.
How is Rapamycin taken?
Oral tablet or solution.
What side effects have been reported with Rapamycin?
Reported in the sources: There is no completed trial demonstrating that rapamycin extends human lifespan or healthspan. The entire longevity case rests on animal data and mechanistic reasoning; Immunosuppression is its approved effect: increased infection risk and impaired wound healing are expected, and the label carries a boxed warning for immunosuppression, infection and lymphoma risk; Metabolic effects including hyperlipidaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and glucose intolerance, largely attributed to mTORC2 inhibition; Stomatitis and mouth ulcers are common and dose-limiting; It is teratogenic and requires effective contraception; Off-label longevity dosing is not standardised, is not supported by outcome data, and requires a prescription.
Educational summary compiled from the sources listed above. Not medical advice. Peptide Vault does not sell, source or recommend any compound. Talk to a qualified clinician before starting or changing anything.