The present invention is drawn to formulations for the transdermal delivery of rapamycin or other related compounds. Specifically in one embodiment a formulation for transdermally delivering rapamycin includes an mTOR inhibitor such as rapamycin water a polymer having surfactant properties a polymer having thickening properties a solvent for solubilizing the mTOR inhibitor a glycol a C10 C20 fatty acid and a base.