Rapalogix Health Announces Publication of Double-Blind Clinical Study Showing Re-Q Longevity Face Serum Improves Skin Firmness, Elasticity, and Biomechanics

Peer-reviewed results in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology show significant improvements versus vehicle as early as Week 2, supported by data demonstrating TORC1 pathway suppression in human skin models

CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Rapalogix Health, a biotechnology company advancing a science-first approach to cellular longevity and skin health, today announced the publication of clinical data for RLX-201, its proprietary longevity molecule that powers Re-Q Longevity Face Serum, in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. The peer-reviewed study, "A Novel TORC1 Inhibitor, RLX-201, Improves Skin Health, Biomechanics, and Extracellular Matrix Integrity in a Double-Blind Clinical Study," found that twice-daily topical application of an RLX-201 formulation significantly improved skin firmness, elasticity, sagging, and overall skin quality compared with vehicle over 12 weeks.

The 12-week, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled study was conducted at Dermatology Consulting Services in High Point, N.C., under Principal Investigator Zoe D. Draelos, MD. The study enrolled 47 women aged 35 to 65 with moderate-to-severe facial photoaging, spanning Fitzpatrick skin types I through VI. Participants were randomized to apply either the RLX-201 formulation found in Re-Q Longevity Face Serum (n=31) or a matching vehicle (n=16) twice daily. Re-Q Longevity Face Serum is commercially available online and through select dermatology practices in the United States.

Key findings include:

• Early and sustained improvement: The RLX-201 formulation was significantly better than vehicle at improving skin firmness as early as Week 2 (p ≤ 0.05), with continued improvement through Week 12.
  
  
• Firmness and elasticity: At Week 12, investigator-assessed firmness and cheek wrinkles improved by 21% from baseline, and sagging, orbital elasticity, and skin tone improved by 14%.
  
  
• Skin quality: At Week 12, skin texture improved by 40%, radiance by 39%, and luminosity by 38% from baseline.
  
  
• Objective biomechanics: Elastometry measurements showed significant improvement in the skin's viscoelastic properties, peaking at Week 8 and sustained through Week 12, with the RLX-201 group outperforming vehicle throughout the study.
  
  
• Patient-reported outcomes: 86% of participants reported visibly hydrated skin, enhanced radiance, and improved texture, and 86% said they would recommend the product.
  
  
• Tolerability: Both formulations were well tolerated, with no adverse events reported.

To evaluate mechanism, the researchers measured phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 (pRPS6), a marker of TORC1 activity, in full-thickness human skin models from three independent donors. RLX-201 reduced pRPS6 by an average of 91.7%, demonstrating consistent TORC1 pathway suppression across donors despite substantial differences in baseline activity. In exploratory biopsy analyses, RLX-201 treatment was associated with increased collagen and elastin in the dermis.

"When we started Rapalogix, the question we kept coming back to was whether targeting a core longevity pathway in skin would translate into results a dermatologist can measure and a patient can see," said Rahul Mehta, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO of Rapalogix Health. "Seeing TORC1 suppression in human skin models line up with firmer, more elastic skin in a double-blind clinical setting is exactly the evidence we set out to generate. This gives our physician partners a rigorous foundation for how they talk about skin longevity with their patients."

"I want to help people age beautifully, and that begins with keeping skin healthy all the way down to the cellular level," said Doris Day, MD, dermatologist and Co-Founder of Rapalogix Health. "In this study, we saw measurable improvements in firmness within two weeks, along with gains in elasticity and skin biomechanics sustained through twelve weeks, in women across the full range of skin types. I always look for objective, measurable data from well-designed clinical studies before I recommend anything to my patients, and I think physicians will expect the same rigor as skin longevity becomes a bigger part of how we care for our skin."

TORC1 is a nutrient-sensing pathway that serves as a central regulator of the hallmarks of aging. In human skin, dysregulated TORC1 signaling has been linked to impaired fibroblast renewal, reduced extracellular matrix synthesis, and diminished regenerative capacity. Rapalogix's approach builds on Cambrian Bio's TORnado platform, which drew on decades of research into rapamycin and the TOR pathway to solve a longstanding challenge in achieving selective TORC1 modulation. Rapalogix was spun out to apply this breakthrough to skin health. RLX-201 is designed to selectively modulate TORC1 activity in the skin to restore cellular balance and support long-term skin health. Rapalogix is currently conducting additional studies of RLX-201 to expand its Re-Q Health professional skincare product line beyond the face.

The study was authored by Zoe D. Draelos, MD; Rahul C. Mehta, PhD; Manisha Jha; Doris Day, MD; and Manpreet K. Randhawa, PhD. The full open-access article is available at https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.71219.

About Rapalogix Health

Rapalogix Health is a California-based biotechnology company pioneering the next evolution in skin health. We translate foundational insights in longevity science into transformative dermatological solutions. Grounded in a science-first approach, the company is developing an innovative pipeline of prescription therapeutics and professional skincare products. Re-Q Longevity Face Serum, the first product from Rapalogix's professional skincare brand, Re-Q Health, is now available online and at select dermatology practices in the United States. Re-Q Longevity Face Serum is powered by RLX-201, Rapalogix's proprietary longevity molecule designed to reset and restore exhausted skin cells, extend their longevity, and deliver healthy and youthful skin over a lifetime.

For more information on Rapalogix Health, visit www.rapalogix.com or follow Rapalogix on LinkedIn and Instagram.

For more information on Re-Q Health, visit www.reqhealth.com or follow Re-Q Health on Instagram.

SOURCE Rapalogix Health, Inc.