Could a transplant drug slow muscle decline in rare disease?

NCT ID NCT02481453

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether rapamycin, a drug used in organ transplants, can help people with Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM), a rare muscle disease that causes progressive weakness and has no approved treatment. Forty-four adults with IBM received either rapamycin or a placebo for one year. The main goal was to see if the drug could stabilize thigh muscle strength.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Rapamycin (also called sirolimus or Rapamune)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a treatment that slows muscle weakness in Inclusion Body Myositis, a disease with no current therapy.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial with only 44 participants. The results may not apply to everyone, and rapamycin can have side effects like infections or mouth sores.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • CIC Paris Est _Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière

    Paris, 75651, France