Easter Island , rapamycin
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Discovered on Easter Island, rapamycin is an antibiotic with immunosuppressive properties, widely used in cancer treatment and currently studied for diseases such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
Its origin dates back to the Medical Expedition to Easter Island (METEI) in 1964, led by Canadian researchers. However, the contributions of the Rapa Nui people were largely omitted from the official history of this scientific breakthrough.
Despite the drug’s enormous financial success — generating billions of dollars annually —, the Rapa Nui community has never received compensation. The case raises critical questions about biopiracy, research ethics, and the rights of Indigenous peoples.
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