Rapamycin
Also called: sirolimus, mTOR inhibitor
Clinical reviewer: Jacob Moore, MD · Last checked September 16, 2026
What is rapamycin?
Rapamycin is the generic name for sirolimus, an mTOR-inhibitor drug FDA-approved in 1999 as Rapamune, for organ-rejection prevention after kidney transplant and for lymphangioleiomyomatosis. It is not a peptide. Its use for longevity, based on mouse lifespan studies, is off-label and unapproved.
What is rapamycin approved to do?
Rapamycin's approved brand, Rapamune, received its original FDA approval on September 15, 1999 [1]. Its current label lists it as an mTOR inhibitor immunosuppressant indicated for preventing organ rejection in patients 13 and older receiving kidney transplants, and separately for lymphangioleiomyomatosis, a lung disease [2]. The label carries a boxed warning that immunosuppression can increase susceptibility to infection and the risk of lymphoma and other malignancies, and it is not recommended after liver or lung transplant [2].
What does the longevity research show?
In a 2009 study, rapamycin fed to genetically heterogeneous mice starting at 600 days of age extended median and maximal lifespan, raising survival at 90% mortality by 14% in females and 9% in males across three test sites [3]. In the 2025 PEARL trial, 48 weeks of weekly compounded rapamycin in healthy older adults did not significantly change visceral fat, though lean mass and self-reported pain improved for women on the 10 mg dose; the authors say efficacy for longevity still needs to be established [4].
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This entry is for education and is not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.
