In the third episode of The R-Files, a series exploring rapamycin, Matt, who has spent over a decade studying the compound, discusses a recent study assessing the benefits and side effects of taking rapamycin off-label, meaning for uses other than its FDA-approved purpose. While physicians can legally prescribe drugs off-label if they believe it will benefit the patient, Matt delves into the notable side effects of rapamycin, the experiences of study participants, and the reasons why off-label use of the drug remains uncommon despite promising evidence for extending lifespan and improving healthspan in lab animals.

Key Points:

In this episode, Matt, a rapamycin researcher, reviews a study on the off-label use of rapamycin, highlighting its potential benefits and side effects. He also explores why, despite promising results in animal studies, the drug's off-label use remains limited.

• Rapamycin's Origins and Medical Uses: Discovered in soil from Easter Island, rapamycin was initially used to prevent organ transplant rejection but has since gained attention for its potential anti-ageing benefits.
• Off-Label Use Study: A University of Washington study evaluated the off-label use of rapamycin, gathering self-reported data from users and non-users on its benefits and side effects.
• Key Findings: Most rapamycin users reported improved health, happiness, and brain function, with the only significant side effect being mouth sores, commonly seen in transplant patients​.
• Rapamycin and Ageing: Preclinical studies show rapamycin can extend lifespan in lab animals, delay ageing, and reverse functional declines. However, its long-term effects on human ageing are not yet fully understood​.
• Rapamycin and COVID-19: Data suggests that continuous rapamycin use may reduce the severity of COVID-19 infections and symptoms related to long COVID​.