Rapamycin, a billion-dollar drug discovered in Easter Island soil in 1964, has led to breakthroughs in cancer treatment and aging research. But the story of its discovery omits the crucial role of the Indigenous Rapa Nui people, explains a molecular biologist.
A billion-dollar drug was found in Easter Island soil – what scientists and companies owe the Indigenous people they studied
Cancer. Diabetes. Aging itself. Rapamycin’s potential to treat an array of diseases has been a source of scientific fascination. But many aren’t aware of its origins – and its complicated legacy.
