What is Rapamycin Used For?
Originally developed as an immunosuppressant, Rapamycin has emerged as one of the most promising medications in longevity science.
While research is still ongoing, Rapamycin appears to expand life expectancy and reduce common age-related diseases.
Rapmaycin is also known as Sirolimus, and its brand names Rapamune, Fyarro, and Hytor.
Read on to learn more about this exciting compound with many potential applications.
What is Rapamycin?
Rapamycin is created from bacteria, similar to antibiotics like Amoxicillin. It’s been used for decades to treat various conditions.
Early Uses
In 1964, a medical expedition discovered Streptomyces hygroscopicus in the soil of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island.
Scientists realized this bacteria created a compound that had many potential medical applications. From this bacteria, they developed Rapamycin by the 1970s.
Scientists found that Rapamycin could:
- Suppress the immune system
- Slow cell growth
- Inhibit the growth of certain types of mold
Because it suppresses the immune system, Rapamycin was approved by the FDA to help prevent organ rejection in renal transplant patients.
More recently, Rapamycin has been used to slow the growth of cancer cells. It’s particularly effective with certain types of breast cancer and renal cell carcinoma.
Emerging Antiaging Benefits of Rapamycin
Rapamycin inhibits a pathway in your cells called mTOR (short for Mammalian Target of Rapamycin).
mTOR controls cell growth, metabolism, and aging. When mTOR is too active, it accelerates aging and increases the risk of age-related diseases.
By blocking mTOR, Rapamycin may slow down the aging process at the cellular level.
More research is needed to determine Rapamycin’s benefits in humans. Here’s what the science says so far.
Rapamycin Increases Longevity
Mice were the first mammal on which Rapamycin showed life-extending effects. Mice typically live up to two years in good conditions.
In one study, genetically diverse mice over 600 days old were given Rapamycin. These mice saw a 16% increase in life for females and 9% for males.
A similar study gave Rapamycin to mice who were 270 days old. These rodents also experienced life extension throughout the study.
In another study, Rapamycin increased the lifespan of fruit flies, particularly female fruit flies. Other studies showed life extension in yeast and nematodes.
While research shows positive results in animals and non-mammals, human studies are still in process.
There are several ongoing or recently completed studies focusing on Rapamycin and aging in humans.
Right now, Rapamycin is one of the most studied drugs in relation to longevity and antiaging. Defy Medical offers qualifying patients access to Rapamycin capsules at tailored dosages.
Rapamycin and Age-Related Disease
Scientists theorize that Rapamycin may extend life because it helps prevent age-related disease.
While conditions like cardiovascular disease and cancer occur at any age, older people are more likely to develop them.
Age-related diseases include:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkison’s
- Several types of cancer, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, and skin cancer
- Arthritis and loss of bone density
- Diabetes
- Respiratory disease
Rapamycin may help prevent or treat these diseases because of its connection to mTOR.
As we age, our mTOR pathway often malfunctions. This leads to many of the conditions and experiences we associate with aging.
For example, mTOR contributes to cellular senescence, or cells failing to divide. This causes a buildup of chronic inflammation, tissue damage, and other factors that contribute to disease.
Aging itself can affect the mTOR pathway through oxidative stress and damage from environmental exposure. These things cause mTOR to malfunction, which then leads to a cycle of more age-related conditions.
Because Rapamycin suppresses the mTOR pathway, it may reduce these effects.
Early human studies of Rapamycin showed improvement in the immune system, cardiovascular system, and the integumentary system (the outer protective layer that includes skin, hair, nails, and glands).
Studies with humans also highlighted Rapamycin’s effects on neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease, pulmonary disorders and rheumatological disorders.
Rapamycin and Antiaging Skincare
Rapamycin has shown great promise as anti-aging skincare.
In one study, adults over 40 applied rapamycin cream to one hand for 6-7 months. Participants saw an overall improvement in how the skin looked, with less pronounced wrinkles, skin sagging, and sun damage.
On a molecular level, participants also saw a significant drop in a protein related to skin aging (p16INK4a). They also experienced a rise of collogen in the skin membrane. Collagen is crucial to skin elasticity and hydration.
Another study looked at Rapamycin’s effects on UV-related skin aging. Sun exposure is a main cause of skin aging along with conditions like skin cancer.
In this study, scientists applied Rapamycin to skin cells that had been exposed to UV rays. The medication significantly reduced signs of aging, or senescence, in these skin cells.
It also boosted a process called autophagy, where damaged and dysfunctional cells are broken down and recycled. Lastly scientists saw evidence of reduced UV-related oxidative stress.
Defy Medical offers access to a skin cream that includes Rapamycin (under the label Sirolimus).
How Do I Get Rapamycin?
Rapamycin requires a prescription, so you’ll need to consult with a licensed medical provider.
Defy Medical offers in-depth lab testing and extended consultations to help patients develop a longevity care plan. These care plans may include Rapamycin along with hormone therapy, Growth Hormone Restoration, nutrition and supplements, and more.
Once our experienced provider determines that Rapamycin is right for you, you’ll be able to order it easily via our online Patient Portal.
Leading-Edge Antiaging Therapies with Defy Medical
Defy Medical’s antiaging therapies are designed to help you look, feel, and function at your best—no matter your age.
We target the root causes of aging with evidence-based treatments. Our personalized approach focuses on restoring balance, enhancing vitality, and preventing age-related decline.
Rapamycin may be a perfect fit for your individualized antiaging care plan.
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