A groundbreaking study suggests that the drug rapamycin could extend women’s fertility by five years and enhance their overall health and longevity. Initial results indicate that the drug is safe for young, healthy women.
The research, conducted by the Validating Benefits of Rapamycin for Reproductive Aging Treatment (Vibrant) study, represents a major shift in the approach to studying menopause. The study aims to determine if rapamycin can slow ovarian aging, delay menopause, extend fertility, and reduce the risk of age-related diseases.
Currently, the study involves 34 women aged up to 35, with plans to expand to over 1,000 participants. Leading the study are Yousin Suh, a professor of reproductive sciences and genetics at Columbia University, and Zev Williams, an associate professor of women’s health and chief of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Suh stated that early findings suggest the drug could realistically reduce ovarian aging by 20% without causing any of rapamycin’s 44 known side effects, which range from mild nausea to high blood pressure and infections. Participants in the randomized, placebo-controlled study have reported improvements in health, memory, energy levels, and the quality of their skin and hair.
“The results of this study are incredibly promising,” Suh said. “This gives hope to those with age-related fertility problems. Our goal is to use rapamycin to extend the lifespan of the ovary, delay menopause, and improve overall health and quality of life.”
The study, costing over $1 million and involving at least 12 scientists, is expected to maintain its promising results as it scales up. Suh emphasized that rapamycin is well-studied, reinforcing confidence in their findings.
This research marks the first attempt to address ovarian aging at its core rather than merely treating menopause symptoms. “Ovarian aging is the fundamental driver of aging in women,” Suh explained. “Hormone replacement therapy addresses aging that has already occurred, but rapamycin taken in a woman’s 30s can slow the entire aging process.”
Women typically lose about 50 eggs per month, with only one reaching ovulation. A small weekly dose of rapamycin reduces this to 15 eggs per month, potentially decreasing ovarian aging by 20%.
“We know this works in animals, and now we know it’s safe for humans,” Williams added. “We just need a larger study to confirm these findings.”
Rapamycin, a cheap and widely used generic drug, holds significant promise for rapid and widespread impact once its benefits are confirmed. However, securing funding is challenging because pharmaceutical companies have little financial incentive to invest in an off-patent drug.
A clinical trial for rapamycin’s longevity effects in humans has been deemed impractical due to the lengthy timescales required. However, ovarian aging occurs quickly enough that significant changes can be measured within six months.
In the study, women receive 5mg of rapamycin weekly for three months, compared to the 13mg daily dosage prescribed to transplant patients. Proper dosing is crucial, as too much rapamycin could halt ovulation. It remains to be seen whether the quality of eggs will decline as ovaries live longer.
Williams highlighted that all participants have continued to menstruate normally, suggesting the dosage is appropriate. “If we were administering too much, menstruation would become irregular or stop.”
The Vibrant study will report results in two years and plans for a larger phase 2 study. “Our vision is that women in their 30s and older can visit their family doctor to gain more control over their reproductive timelines,” Suh said.
While women could stop taking rapamycin after menopause, its broader health benefits might encourage continued use.
Dr. Jennifer Garrison, a neuroscientist at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and founder of the Global Consortium for Reproductive Longevity and Equality, praised the findings. “This research marks a paradigm shift in biomedical research for women,” she said. “It’s the first step toward prolonging ovarian function and preserving endocrine health with age.”
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