Minocycline

Intervention Approved 1971

5 papers4 findings

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

About aging: trials about aging, of every trial that tests the drug for any use.

No results posted: trials that ended over a year ago with no results on ClinicalTrials.gov and no paper reporting them.

Company ties: findings with an author at a company, or from a paper whose competing-interests statement declares ties to one.

2 independent labs in 2 countries
140 trials, 1 about aging, 45 with no results posted

Funders: Medical Research Council and 4 more
1 of 2 findings with company ties
3 of 140 trials sponsored by its developers

Animals2
In silico2

Mouse lifespan

NIA ITP

2015300 ppm from 6 months+5% males, −3% females

Outcomes

Lifespan

upin silico1+27% to +28%

1 study

Minocycline extends lifespan in silico (26.67%).
“minocycline led to the highest percent increase in average lifespan among other compounds, in both Drosophila melanogaster (28.09%) and Caenorhabditis elegans (26.67%)”
In silico
A collective analysis of lifespan-extending compounds in diverse model organisms, and of species whose lifespan can be extended the most by the application of compounds
Biogerontology23 Oct 2021
Minocycline extends lifespan in silico (28.09%).
“minocycline led to the highest percent increase in average lifespan among other compounds, in both Drosophila melanogaster (28.09%)”
In silico
A collective analysis of lifespan-extending compounds in diverse model organisms, and of species whose lifespan can be extended the most by the application of compounds
Biogerontology23 Oct 2021

Cognitive function

upin mice1

1 study

Minocycline improves cognitive function in mice.
“Similarly, perioperative inhibition of microglial activation with minocycline resulted in cognitive improvement.”
Animalsperioperativemales
Gamma Oscillation Disruption Induced By Microglial Activation Contributes to Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders in Aged Mice
Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN2 Aug 2025

Survival

no changein mice1

1 study

Minocycline has no effect on survival in mice.
“The experimental design included tests of four other drugs, minocycline, β-guanidinopropionic acid, MitoQ, and 17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-DMAG), but none of these led to a change in survival in either sex.”
Animalslate-life administration
Rapamycin-mediated mouse lifespan extension: Late-life dosage regimes with sex-specific effects
Aging cell4 Nov 2020

Trials

1 about aging, of 140

About aging

Antihypertensive Mechanisms of Minocycline in Resistant Hypertension
Phase 4Recruiting

Approved

FDA Minocin
30 Jun 1971Discontinued
FDA Minocin
26 Oct 1972Infections, urethritis, conjunctivitis
FDA Minocin
26 Oct 1972Discontinued
FDA Minocycline Hydrochloride
10 Aug 1982Discontinued
FDA Minocin
31 May 1990
FDA Arestin
16 Feb 2001Adult Periodontitis

All 12

FDA Solodyn
8 May 2006Discontinued
FDA Ximino
11 Jul 2012Discontinued
FDA Minolira
8 May 2017Discontinued
FDA Amzeeq
18 Oct 2019Acne Vulgaris
FDA Zilxi
28 May 2020Rosacea
FDA Emrosi
1 Nov 2024Rosacea

Repurposing

Depression
Phase 4Results posted6 trials
Ischemic stroke
Phase 4Completed8 trials
Multiple sclerosis
Phase 3Terminated1 trial
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Phase 3Completed2 trials
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Phase 3Status unknown1 trial
Schizophrenia
Phase 4Results posted6 trials

40 of 89

Major depressive disorder
Phase 3Completed4 trials
Periodontitis
Phase 4Results posted3 trials
Bipolar disorder
Phase 4Results posted3 trials
Mood disorder
Phase 4Results posted3 trials
Spinal cord injury
Phase 3Status unknown2 trials
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Phase 4Results posted1 trial
Depressive disorder
Phase 4Completed3 trials
Bacterial infection
Phase 4Results posted3 trials
Psychological stress
Phase 4Results posted1 trial
Renal cell carcinoma
Phase 3Status unknown1 trial
Psychotic disorders
Phase 4Results posted3 trials
Cerebral hemorrhage
Phase 3Recruiting5 trials
Chronic periodontitis
Phase 4Results posted3 trials
Gastritis
Phase 4Recruiting1 trial
Oral lichen planus
Phase 3Status unknown1 trial
Colonic neoplasms
Phase 3Status unknown1 trial
Dyspepsia
Phase 4Recruiting1 trial
Peri-implantitis
Phase 3Results posted1 trial
Chronic kidney failure
Phase 4Completed1 trial
Postoperative cognitive complications
Phase 3Status unknown1 trial
Rectal neoplasms
Phase 3Status unknown1 trial
Hypertension
Phase 2Results posted2 trials
Stroke
Phase 2/3Recruiting5 trials
Parkinson's disease
Phase 2Completed1 trial
HIV infection
Phase 2Terminated1 trial
Pain
Phase 2Results posted2 trials
Chronic pain
Phase 2Results posted2 trials
Huntington's disease
Phase 2/3Results posted2 trials
Asthma
Phase 2Completed2 trials
Delirium
Phase 2Completed1 trial
Anxiety disorders
Phase 2Results posted1 trial
Low back pain
Phase 2Results posted1 trial
Multiple myeloma
Phase 2Results posted2 trials
Eye disease
Phase 2Results posted1 trial

Every condition in trials

cyclopia sequence
Phase 4Results posted72 trials
Autistic disorder
Phase 4Results posted3 trials
Treatment-Resistant Depressive Disorder
Phase 4Completed2 trials
Peptic ulcer
Phase 4Recruiting1 trial
Stomach neoplasm
Phase 4Recruiting1 trial
Fragile X syndrome
Phase 2Completed2 trials

All 10

Angelman syndrome
Phase 2Completed1 trial
Chronic renal insufficiency
Phase 1Terminated1 trial
Pharmacokinetic
Phase 1Completed1 trial
Sclerosing cholangitis
Phase 1Completed1 trial

Stopped

NCT00240513TerminatedAcne vulgaris
Too much difficulty recruiting and retaining patients, PI decided to stop.
NCT01349192TerminatedInfection
Interim review showed a statistically significant treatment effect and the DMC recommended that the study be stopped with ongoing follow-up of enrolled subjects
NCT04291456TerminatedMultiple sclerosis
Completion is not possible due to recruitment concerns
NCT06107725TerminatedStroke
The protocol is in the process to change due to challenges in recruiting participants (without a treatment arm) which is now reflected in 2024-04-01
NCT02055963TerminatedHead and neck neoplasm
Early termination due to the protocol lack of progress in improving accrual rate
NCT00515255TerminatedObsessive-compulsive disorder
Recruitment Goal of 20 Not Met

All 11

NCT00361257TerminatedHIV infection
This study was terminated early due to futility.
NCT01219673TerminatedCarcinoma
Low accrual.
NCT03117530SuspendedAutism spectrum disorder
COVID
NCT02808052TerminatedAcute kidney injury
Sponsor decision due to change in strategy
NCT02201563TerminatedBrain neoplasms
Very slow recruitment (only one patient was recruited)