Aging, the primary risk factor for most chronic diseases, has only recently been recognized as a modifiable biological process. Over the past two decades, research particularly on rapamycin, a drug originally developed as an immunosuppressant has shown its potential to extend lifespan and improve healthspan across species, highlighting the mTOR pathway as a key regulator of aging. Building on this, Dr. Bonnie LaFleur of the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy is leading a six-year Phase 3 clinical trial, supported by a $12 million gift from R. Ken Coit, to assess whether rapamycin can enhance resilience and immune function in older adults, reflecting a broader shift toward targeting aging at the cellular level rather than solely treating disease.

Dr. Bonnie LaFleur was joined by Dr. Matt Kaeberlein, a leading aging researcher, affiliate professor at the University of Washington, and CEO of Optispan, who provided a historical perspective on mTOR inhibition as a key longevity intervention. LaFleur highlighted the focus of their Phase 3 trial on improving physical function and reducing inflammation, aiming to support “superagers” who live longer with minimal disease. The study will assess whether rapamycin can delay frailty and lower IL-6 levels, an inflammatory marker linked to age related conditions.

Among the event attendees was President Suresh Garimella, as well as JP Roczniak, president and CEO of the UA Foundation. President Garimella provided a welcome address for the event and emphasized the power of research and philanthropy to move science forward.

During the lecture, Kaeberlein provided a historical overview of the scientific journey linking mTOR and rapamycin to the biology of aging, and the key discoveries that established mTOR inhibition as one of the most robust interventions for extending lifespan in laboratory models. He also shared emerging evidence from companion animals and humans, including what we know and what we still do not know about rapamycin’s potential effects on healthy aging in people. With the broader context of these findings, there is now a growing effort to target the biology of aging as a strategy to delay or prevent multiple age-related diseases simultaneously.

 “There is so much evidence supporting the need for these kinds of clinical trials,” Kaeberlein concluded, highlighting the importance of the research being conducted at the university. “This trial has the opportunity to fill a critical gap in knowledge, with the potential for significant impact on the future of human health.”

source: https://www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/news/2026/can-drug-slow-aging-rapamycin-story