A drug that could extend women’s fertility by five years – and help them live longer in better health – is safe for a young, healthy population, according to early results of a study.

The research into repurposing the immunosuppressant rapamycin has been hailed a “paradigm shift” in how menopause is studied.

The Validating Benefits of Rapamycin for Reproductive Aging Treatment (Vibrant) study is designed to measure whether the drug can slow ovaries ageing, thereby delaying menopause, extending fertility and reducing the risk of age-related diseases.

The study, which will eventually include more than 1,000 women, now has 34 participants aged up to 35, with more women joining every day.