Fact Check: No, Chinese scientists haven’t found a drug to make humans live to 150 years
Matebeleland Pulse Fact-Check Desk
A claim widely shared on social media suggests that Chinese scientists have developed a “miracle drug” capable of extending human life to 150 years. The posts, some of which falsely cite The New York Times, claim the breakthrough is based on a compound called PCC1 extracted from grape seeds.
Matebeleland Pulse has verified this claim and found it to be false and misleading.
What the claim says
Posts on X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and WhatsApp allege that researchers in China created an anti-ageing drug that destroys old cells, allowing humans to live up to 150 years. Some versions of the claim even reference The New York Times as the source.
However, no such story has been published by The New York Times, and no verified scientific study supports this claim.
What’s true about PCC1
The compound Procyanidin C1 (PCC1) is real. It’s a natural substance derived from grape seeds that scientists have been studying for years for its antioxidant and anti-ageing properties.
In 2020, a team from the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences published research in the journal Nature Metabolism. The study found that PCC1 helped eliminate “senescent cells” — old or damaged cells that accumulate with age in mice, leading to modest improvements in health and lifespan.
However, as the study authors themselves wrote:
“Further work will be needed to assess whether PCC1 can be safely and effectively translated for human use.” — Nature Metabolism (2020)
What experts say
Scientists who study ageing caution against assuming that what works in mice will automatically work in humans.
“Senolytics have shown promise in mice, but translating them to humans is extremely challenging,” said Dr Judith Campisi, a senior ageing researcher at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, in an interview with Scientific American.
No clinical trials in humans have been conducted using PCC1. There is also no regulatory approval for any such “life-extending” drug anywhere in the world.
Verdict
✅ Fact-check verdict: FALSE
The claim that Chinese scientists developed a drug that can make humans live to 150 years is false. The original research was conducted on mice, and while it showed interesting results, it does not mean humans can live longer using PCC1.
No evidence links this research to The New York Times or to any ongoing human trials.
Why it matters
Misinformation about “miracle” anti-ageing drugs spreads quickly online, often driven by hype and commercial interests. Such claims can give false hope or even lead people to buy untested supplements.
Accurate reporting helps people understand real scientific progress, which takes years of testing, regulation, and peer review before becoming safe for human use.
