# Rapamycin

sirolimus · syrolimus · Rapamune

https://graded.pl/en/substances/rapamycin · Checked: Not yet

Preliminary version. The editors have not finished checking this card, and grades may change.

A medicine that weakens the immune system, used after transplants. Some people take it for ageing, which is not an approved use. It extends the life of mice, but short studies in people show no clear benefit. It carries serious warnings at transplant doses.

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## Short answers

### Does rapamycin work?

A medicine that weakens the immune system, used after transplants. Some people take it for ageing, which is not an approved use. It extends the life of mice, but short studies in people show no clear benefit. It carries serious warnings at transplant doses. Muscle mass: grade C, conflicting results. A rise in body mass without fat appeared only in women on 10 mg in one study, and it was not the main goal of that study. Strength: grade B, no effect in studies. Two small studies of older adults showed no gain in function, and one suggested a weaker response to training. Longer life: grade C, not clear. Mice clearly lived longer. Studies in people are short, measure indirect signs and show no steady benefit.

### Is Rapamycin legal?

PL: Prescription only. Rapamune is a prescription medicine approved across the EU. Using it for ageing is not an approved use. EU: Approved medicine. Rapamune is approved after kidney transplants and for a rare lung disease. US: Prescription only. Prescription medicine. Using it for ageing is not an approved use.

### Is rapamycin banned in sport?

Not on the list, WADA 2026.

### Is Rapamycin safe?

Little data.

## What studies show

| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle mass | C | Conflicting results | A rise in body mass without fat appeared only in women on 10 mg in one study, and it was not the main goal of that study. |
| Strength | B | No effect in studies | Two small studies of older adults showed no gain in function, and one suggested a weaker response to training. |
| Longer life | C | Not clear | Mice clearly lived longer. Studies in people are short, measure indirect signs and show no steady benefit. |

## Studies we have read

- Exercise and Weekly Sirolimus (Rapamycin) in Older Adults: RAPA-EX-01 Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. (J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2026; Random groups, n=40) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41985884/
- Influence of rapamycin on safety and healthspan metrics after one year: PEARL trial results. (Aging (Albany NY) 2025; Random groups, n=129) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40188830/
- A randomized control trial to establish the feasibility and safety of rapamycin treatment in an older human cohort: Immunological, physical performance, and cognitive effects. (Exp Gerontol 2018; Random groups, n=25) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29408453/
- Rapamycin fed late in life extends lifespan in genetically heterogeneous mice. (Nature 2009; In animals) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19587680/

## Is it legal

- PL: Prescription only. Rapamune is a prescription medicine approved across the EU. Using it for ageing is not an approved use. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/rapamune (Checked: Not yet)
- EU: Approved medicine. Rapamune is approved after kidney transplants and for a rare lung disease. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/rapamune (Checked: Not yet)
- US: Prescription only. Prescription medicine. Using it for ageing is not an approved use. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/daf/index.cfm?event=overview.process&ApplNo=021083 (Checked: Not yet)

## Doping

Not on the list, WADA 2026. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list

## How much research exists

- Scientific papers: 2574
- Studies with random groups: 19
- Registered studies in people: 86
- These are search results. A count shows how much exists, not how good the studies are. 1 Nov 2026.

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Open data: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/