[ExI] Drug cocktail extends healthy lifespan in mice

[Stuart LaForge]

A combination of rapamycin and trametinib extend the healthspan and 
lifespan of mice by 30%. I have not had a chance to read the article yet 
because I am at work right now, but rapamycin is an immunosupressant 
used in organ transplants to prevent tissue rejection and trametinib is 
an anti-cancer drug used to treat a variety of cancer. Both work by 
inhibiting cell growth. Together they target the oncogenic Ras/MEK/ERK 
pathway that is involved in numerous cancers.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-025-00876-4

Abstract
Suppression of the insulin–IGF–mTORC1–Ras network ameliorates aging in 
animals. Many drugs have targets in the network because of its roles in 
cancer and metabolic disease and are candidates for repurposing as 
geroprotectors. Rapamycin, an established geroprotective drug, blocks 
mTORC1 signaling, and trametinib inhibits the Ras–MEK–ERK pathway. In 
this study, we assessed survival and health of male and female mice 
treated with trametinib, rapamycin or their combination. We show here 
that trametinib treatment extended lifespan in both sexes and that its 
combination with rapamycin was additive. Combination treatment reduced 
liver tumors in both sexes and spleen tumors in male mice, blocked the 
age-related increase in brain glucose uptake and strongly reduced 
inflammation in brain, kidney, spleen and muscle and circulating levels 
of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We conclude that trametinib is a 
geroprotector in mice and that its combination with rapamycin is more 
effective than either drug alone, making the combination a candidate for 
repurposing as a gerotherapy in humans.
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Stuart LaForge