Palvella Therapeutics Announces Scientific Publication in Lymphatic Research and Biology Highlighting Recent Advances in the Pathogenesis of Venous Malformations and the Real-World Use of Rapamycin as an Emerging Targeted Therapy
News September 18, 2025

Palvella Therapeutics Announces Scientific Publication in Lymphatic Research and Biology Highlighting Recent Advances in the Pathogenesis of Venous Malformations and the Real-World Use of Rapamycin as an Emerging Targeted Therapy

Recent advances in understanding venous malformation disease pathogenesis highlight the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway as a key driver of disease proliferation, spurring real-world off-label use of systemic rapamycin (sirolimus)

**Groundbreaking Research Sheds Light on Venous Malformations, Paving the Way for Targeted Therapies**

Palvella Therapeutics has announced the publication of a significant scientific article in *Lymphatic Research and Biology*, a leading journal in the field. The publication details recent breakthroughs in understanding the underlying mechanisms driving venous malformations, a debilitating condition characterized by abnormal clusters of veins. These findings are particularly exciting as they point towards promising new treatment strategies, including the use of rapamycin, also known as sirolimus, as a targeted therapy.

Venous malformations can cause a range of symptoms, from mild swelling and pain to more severe complications such as disfigurement, bleeding, and functional impairment. While various treatment options exist, many are invasive and offer only temporary relief. A deeper understanding of the disease's root causes is crucial for developing more effective and long-lasting therapies.

The research highlighted in the *Lymphatic Research and Biology* article focuses on the critical role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in the development and progression of venous malformations. This complex signaling pathway is involved in cell growth, proliferation, and survival. The research suggests that in venous malformations, this pathway becomes abnormally activated, leading to the uncontrolled growth of venous tissue.

This crucial discovery has spurred the off-label use of rapamycin, a drug that inhibits the mTOR protein, a key component of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Rapamycin, typically used as an immunosuppressant, has shown promise in slowing down or even reversing the abnormal growth of venous malformations by targeting the underlying molecular mechanisms driving the disease.

The publication emphasizes the real-world application of rapamycin in treating venous malformations. While further research and clinical trials are needed to fully understand the drug's efficacy and long-term safety in this context, the initial results are encouraging. This publication provides a strong scientific rationale for exploring rapamycin and other targeted therapies that specifically address the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway as potential treatments for venous malformations. The findings offer hope for improved outcomes and a better quality of life for individuals affected by this challenging condition. It underscores the importance of ongoing research in rare diseases and the potential for repurposing existing drugs to meet unmet medical needs.
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