Maraviroc Fights Middle-Aged Memory Loss (And Muscle Aging)

Right on, thanks for the reply. Glad to hear all that. Had no idea.
Hopefully you can trial Maraviroc one day and share your review on it.
You bring up a good point about it being limited to specific areas, and it appears to be only available in a few continents.
Might be a while before seeing any results for increased lifespan from the data.

Though would be cool to have people who use (or can get) these medications and do various testing such as the cognitive tests, or other types of testing such as rate of aging, blood testing etc - to see if there is anything good or bad with the testing.

I just started Maraviroc a few days ago, 300mg BID, for Long COVID. I became interested in it based on the Patient-reported treatment outcomes study that @RapAdmin posted earlier. I had already been taking Sirolimus, 6mg weekly, also for Long COVID, for the past 6 months with little discernable improvements. I discussed with my prescribing Doctor and he thinks there is no significant interactions between the two, despite both being metabolized by the CYP3A4 enzyme. However I’m planning to decrease the Sirolimus dose to 4mg weekly.

I’m also currently taking 180mg ER Mestinon and 12mg Metoprolol, both of which improve POTS symptoms, and 10mg Rosevestatin, to reduce fractalkine and LDL, which came back high after my acute COVID infection. Also tons of supplements, including most B vitamins, D3, astaxanthin, urolithin, ubiquinol, etc.

I used the free new Long COVID AI platform at RTHM.com to analyze this drug combination, and it judged theese to be a synergistic drug combination that that targets multiple pathways identified in the current Long COVID research. I’m hopeful, but generally take AI with a grain of salt.

I had a liver panel done before taking and will have another in 2 weeks. So far no noticible effects or side-effects. We expect it’ll be 3-4 weeks before anything becomes evident and 2 months before any full effect. Brain fog and memery issues have been an issue since my acute infection, so I’m hoping Maraviroc will help. I used nicotine patches with great cognitive and memory improvements earlier this year, but stopped patching when I started Mestinon so as to avoid overloading the cholinergic system.

The current thought is to take Maraviroc for 3 months, but I’m open to longer if it seems helpful. HIV patients are documented to have taking Maraviroc for 5 years with no ill effects. Both Polybio and HealthBio are running Maraviroc clinical trials for Long COVID now with results coming out early next year.

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Please do some pre and post measurement of memory abilities, and report back if you see any signal in the data. Some options:

Here’s a structured table of ~10 memory/cognition-measurement and training tools, along with validation status, pros/cons, ideal user profiles—tailored for your systems-thinking, longitudinal-monitoring mindset.

# Tool Category Validation / Scientific Basis Pros Cons Best For
1 Lila (by Cogstate) Measurement / screening Described as “science-backed, reliable … episode memory” test. (Cogstate) Well-designed for memory/episodic domain; repeatable baseline option More screening-oriented (early Alzheimer’s risk) than peak performance; cost/licensing may apply High-signal baseline & periodic assessment in a longevity stack
2 XpressO (by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)) Measurement Digital self-assessment from MoCA platform. (Moca Cognition) From well-known cognitive screening source; quick, easy Still screening/impairment focus, less optimized for high-performer tracking A convenient “check-in” tool for periodic monitoring
3 BrainTest Measurement Promotes itself as clinically validated (sensitivity/specificity stats) for MCI/dementia screening. (Apple) Good for establishing a baseline and historical change tracking Geared to impairment detection; less about fine-grained high-function cognition For users concerned about early decline and wanting baseline data
4 CANTAB Digital Cognitive Assessments (by Cambridge Cognition) Measurement / professional Marketed as “most validated cognitive assessment software available”. (Cambridge Cognition) Very high-fidelity, used in research/clinical contexts; good depth Higher cost, less consumer-friendly; may require more time/effort For someone doing serious longitudinal cognitive tracking as part of a health/longevity stack
5 CogniFit Hybrid (Measurement + some training) Popular consumer app; claims many abilities. (Google Play) Easy to access; offers both measures and “games” Consumer-grade; training effects transfer to real-world cognition remain uncertain (see notes) Good for casual use and tracking but treat training gains cautiously
6 Peak (with game “Decoder” developed at University of Cambridge) Training / practice “Decoder” game shows improved attention in one study. (University of Cambridge) Evidence-based game integrated; more fun/engaging Still primarily training specific tasks; broad transfer is unclear For practice/engagement, not sole strategy for cognitive improvement
7 Elevate Training / practice Common commercial brain-training app; limited strong external validation Gamified, easy to deploy daily Evidence for broad real-world benefits is weak. (Harvard Health) As a daily stimulation tool, but not a primary intervention
8 NeuroNation Training / practice Commercial brain-training app. Review shows limited evidence of broad transfer. (Wikipedia) Wide user base; accessible training modules Again: gains may stay task-specific; everyday effects uncertain For supplemental use and cognitive variety
9 Cogmed Training (working memory) Developed in academic context; meta-analysis shows only near-transfer effects and no strong durability. (Wikipedia) Specific focus (working memory); research pedigree Doesn’t broadly generalize; target population often children/clinical If you want focused working memory training, under supervision
10 Miscellaneous mobile cognitive training apps (various) Training / practice Reviews show variable quality; many apps lack rigorous evidence. (JMIR mHealth and Uhealth) Many choices, low entry cost Hard to know which are good; risk of wasted time Use with caution, pick ones with credibility & evidence base

:mag: Meta-Takeaways for Your Use-Case

Given your interest in tracking, biomarker integration, and high-fidelity monitoring, here are some recommendations and caveats:

  • Use measurement tools as baseline + periodic check-ins: Tools #1-#4 are better suited for your stack (baseline cognitive/episodic memory status, tracking change over time).
  • Treat training apps as supplemental: Tools #5-#10 can be part of your lifestyle “cognitive hygiene” stack (like sleep, exercise, nutrition) but should not be over-interpreted as major drivers of cognitive change. This is because the evidence for broad transfer (i.e., “get better at game → big improvement in daily memory tasks”) remains weak. (Stanford Center on Longevity)
  • Document intervals and context: Like you do for biomarkers, track measurement results over consistent intervals (6-12 months maybe), note intervening variables (sleep, stress, illness, medication, lifestyle changes) so you can correlate memory/cognition performance with those external variables.
  • Beware of practice effects and ceiling/floor effects: If you use the same tool repeatedly, some improvement may reflect “you know the test now” rather than true cognitive gain. Especially if you’re already high-performing, marginal gains may be small.
  • Complement with lifestyle & other biomarkers: The evidence suggests that physical activity, social engagement, sleep quality, medical risk factors (vascular, metabolic) are more robust for cognitive health than brain-training apps alone. (Harvard Health)
  • Interpret changes thoughtfully: If you see decline, use it as an early flag—not panic—but consider further work-up (medical/neurology) especially given the screening-oriented nature of some tools (#1-#3).
  • Choose tools suited to your performance level and objectives: For example, if you are a high-cognitive-performer tracking subtle changes, measurement tools with high sensitivity (like CANTAB) will serve better than casual training apps. If you’re older or worried about early decline, those screening tools become more valuable.

If you like, I can pull downloadable links, cost/price tiers, platform (iOS/Android/web), and a summary score (based on criteria: scientific validation, user experience, suitability for high-performer tracking vs. aging/impairment risk) for each of the above tools, so you can decide which to integrate into your monitoring stack. Would you like me to build that?

Also…

My CGPT5 prompt:

Identify the best, most scientifically validated memory measurement and practice websites and apps

Response:

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Just downloaded the ExpressO by MoCA and scored a 93. I’ll try again in a few weeks to see if I’ve improved. But as the “Cons” column said, this is geared towards detecting impairment, not measuring high-functioning cognition, so I’m not sure how useful it’ll be. I have a cognitively demanding job and I can tell when I’m off my game, although I know that’s a subjective measurement.

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Has anyone found a source for maraviroc? My Indian supplier says it’s not produced in India and is therefore not available. Would be interesting to try for the memory improvement benefit.

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In this link I posted the image from a search on Indiamart.com of a bunch of resellers listing Maraviroc for sale… Maraviroc Fights Middle-Aged Memory Loss - #3 by RapAdmin

You might try contacting some of the companies listed in this thread: Buy Rapamycin Online - List of Reliable Pharmacies

Or try contacting some of the ones listing it on Indiamart: https://export.indiamart.com/search.php?ss=maraviroc&prdsrc=1&tags=qr_nm:splt-gd|cs:12597|res:RC3|com-cf:nl|ptrs:na|ktp:N0|mc:446143|cat:571|mtp:S|qry_typ:P|lang:en|wc:1|rtn:0-0-0-0-0-10-1|qrd:251203|mrd:251203|prdt:251204|qcr:1

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FWIW, my sis in law was looking for something that I found on the Indiamart website.

I contacted 3 well known vendors and they all confirmed it was not actually available in India.

This one might be available, but I learned they do post things as click bait.

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There is a pharma company in India producing it, but it looks to be a smaller company. I’m suspicious / leery of smaller Indian Pharma companies as their quality control tends to be worse than the major International Pharma. Another approach might be to contact a doctor through something like Push Health and try to get a US-based prescription and source.

From Gemini: Based on your request, the manufacturer and company details for Axentri 150mg Maraviroc Tablets are listed below.

Manufacturer Identification

  • Manufacturer: Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd.1
  • Headquarters: Pune, India2
  • Therapeutic Class: CCR5 co-receptor antagonist (Antiretroviral)3

Company Website

Product Context

Axentri is a branded generic version of Maraviroc , an entry inhibitor used in the treatment of CCR5-tropic HIV-1 infection.4 Unlike other antiretrovirals that target viral replication after cell entry, Maraviroc blocks the CCR5 receptor on the CD4 cell surface to prevent viral entry.5 As a prescription pharmaceutical, specific product pages may be restricted depending on regional compliance laws; however, the manufacturer’s corporate site provides general portfolio information.


Just a note : Rosuvastatin in some patients is associated with decreased cognition that mimics long covid. I certainly found that was the case for me. By switching to Atorvastatin (or Pitavastatin) for 7 days and then switching back to Rosuvastatin for 7 days (try it a few times) you can quickly determine if you someone who is sensitive to the effects.

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Thanks for the info. I ended up ordering from Shree Signify Exim. Shipped cost is about 1/3 of that of GoodRx prices.

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Been on it for three weeks at 150mg BID. Doing rehab and too early to be certain but subjectively feeling progress to be easier.

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Great to hear. Keep us updated as time goes by!

More interesting news on Maraviroc that I missed earlier (July, 25):

  • Maraviroc as a Senomorphic: The study screens for compounds that can disrupt this signaling and identifies Maraviroc (a CCR5 antagonist) as a potent senomorphic . Unlike senolytics (which induce apoptosis in senescent cells), Maraviroc suppresses the inflammatory SASP “chatter” between cells without killing them.
  • Mouse Model Results: As noted in your text, aged mice treated with Maraviroc demonstrated:
    • Functional Gains: Significantly improved grip strength and running endurance.
    • Morphological Changes: Increased muscle fiber cross-sectional area (reversal of atrophy).
    • Cellular Impact: Reduced markers of cellular senescence (e.g., p16, p21) and decreased inflammatory infiltration.

Dosing (Preclinical)

The study utilized two dosing regimens in mice that yielded positive results:

  1. Injection: 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally every other day for 12 weeks (started at 18 months old).
  2. Oral/Dietary: 1.5 mg/kg per day mixed into food for 15 weeks (started at 21 months old).

Multiomics and cellular senescence profiling of aging human skeletal muscle uncovers Maraviroc as a senotherapeutic approach for sarcopenia

Cellular senescence is a hallmark of organismal aging but how it drives aging in human tissues is not fully understood. Here we leverage single nucleus multiomics to profile senescence in mononucleated cells of human skeletal muscle and provide the first senescence atlas. We demonstrate the intra- and inter-populational transcriptomic and epigenomic heterogeneity and dynamics of cellular senescence. We also identify commonalities and variations in senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs) among the cells and elucidate SASP mediated cellular interactions and niche deregulation. Furthermore, we identify targetable SASPs and demonstrate the possibility of using Maraviroc as a pharmacological senotherapeutic for treating age-associated sarcopenia. Lastly, we define transcription factors that govern senescence state and SASP induction in aging muscle and elucidate the key function and mechanism of JUNB in SASP activation. Altogether, our findings demonstrate the prevalence and function of cellular senescence in skeletal muscle and identify a novel pharmacological intervention for sarcopenia.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-61403-y

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A post was split to a new topic: Existing HIV Drug Reverses Muscle Aging by purging “Zombie Cell” Signals

Hey @NickG,

Any effects (good/bad) to report since you’ve been taking it for 2 months already? Have you done any lab tests recently(after starting Maraviroc) and what were the results? Thanks,

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Walter_Brown, I assume that you’re using a 150 mg pill. If that is the case how do you manage to cut it into 10 segments?

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It is available from India.

Axentri Maraviroc Tablets

"In India, Maraviroc is primarily sold under the brand name Axentri.

Brand Information

Manufacturer: Axentri is manufactured by Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd…

Availability: It is available in 150 mg and 300 mg tablets, typically sold in bottles of 60 tablets.’

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A little about Emcure Pharmaceuticals. The lack of much export to more developed countries gives me a bit of concern about quality, as does the regulatory problems at that specific factory they produce the medicine at. I wish there were an easy, cost-effective way to have the medicine evaluated:

The following profile details the size, financial standing, and quality reputation of Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. as of late 2025.

Quick Snapshot

  • Industry Rank: 13th Largest in India (Domestic Sales)
  • Market Cap: ~₹27,000 Cr ($3.2B USD)
  • Primary Focus: Gynecology (#1 in India), HIV Antivirals, Cardiac, and Biologics.

1. Ranking & Financial Magnitude

Emcure is a significant Tier-1 player in the Indian pharmaceutical market (IPM), distinct for its heavy reliance on the domestic market compared to its export-heavy peers.

Metric Value / Rank Context
India Rank 13th Based on domestic sales (MAT FY24). It is the 4th largest company in its specific “covered markets” (therapeutic areas it competes in).
Revenue (FY24) ₹6,658 Cr (~$800M) Domestic sales contribute approx. 48% of total revenue, which is higher than many Indian pharma peers who rely more on US exports.
Revenue (TTM) ₹8,449 Cr (~$1B) Trailing 12-Months as of Sept 2025. Growth has accelerated recently, driven by new product launches.
Market Cap ~₹27,000 Cr Listed on NSE/BSE in July 2024. Currently valued as a mid-cap pharma stock.
Key Segments #1 in Gynecology Also holds leadership positions in HIV (Antivirals) and Iron supplements.

Note on Growth: Emcure has outperformed the Indian Pharmaceutical Market (IPM) growth rate in domestic sales over the last 3 years (CAGR of ~10% vs industry ~8%).


2. Quality Reputation & Regulatory Status

Emcure’s reputation is currently in a “Recovery and Redemption” phase. Historically plagued by severe regulatory issues, the company has made significant strides in 2024–2025 to clear its compliance record.

The “Red Flag” History (2015–2019)

  • Warning Letters: The company suffered severe reputational damage due to US FDA warning letters in 2016 and 2019 for its Hinjewadi (Pune) facility.
  • Issues Cited: Regulators cited data integrity breaches, poor aseptic processing techniques, and failure to investigate batch discrepancies. This effectively locked them out of significant US export opportunities for years.

Current Status: Significant Improvement (2024–2025)

As of December 2025, the company has successfully cleared multiple critical inspections, signaling a turnaround in manufacturing quality.

  • :white_check_mark: Gujarat (Kadu) Facility: Received “No Action Indicated” (NAI) status from the US FDA in December 2025 (Inspection Oct 2025). This is the highest compliance rating, meaning no objectionable conditions were found—a major “clean chit.”
  • :white_check_mark: Sanand (Oncology) Facility: Concluded a US FDA Pre-Approval Inspection in July 2025 with Zero Observations.
  • :warning: Pune (API) Facility: Received 2 Observations (Form 483) in Feb 2025. However, this was later classified as VAI (Voluntary Action Indicated) in April 2025, meaning the FDA accepted their corrective plan and the facility is compliant enough to continue operations/exports.

Summary Verdict

  • Commercial Strength: High. They are a dominant domestic force with a unique “brand-building” model rather than just generic commodities. They own the gynecological niche in India.
  • Quality Risk: Moderate (Improving). While the historical data integrity issues were severe, the “Zero Observation” and “NAI” results in late 2025 suggest they have overhauled their quality management systems. They are no longer in the “danger zone” they were in 5 years ago.

Emcure manufactures Axentri (Maraviroc) at its primary solid oral dosage facility in Pune, Maharashtra .

Based on the product packaging and regulatory filings, the specific factory details are:

Manufacturing Location

  • City: Pune, Maharashtra
  • Facility Zone: Hinjewadi (a major IT and Biotech park in Pune)
  • Specific Address:

Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Survey No. 255/2, Phase-I, Hinjewadi, Pune - 411 057, Maharashtra, India.

Facility Context

  • Role: The Hinjewadi plant is Emcure’s headquarters and flagship facility. It is responsible for manufacturing the majority of their HIV antiretrovirals (ARVs) and solid oral formulations (tablets/capsules) for both the Indian domestic market and export to emerging markets.

Based on the manufacturing location of Axentri (Maraviroc) at the Hinjewadi, Pune facility, here is the specific quality and regulatory status for that site.

Facility Snapshot: Hinjewadi Phase-1 (Pune)

  • Role: Emcure’s Headquarters & Flagship Facility (Solid Orals & Injectables).
  • US FDA Status: Restricted / Official Action Indicated (OAI)
  • Last Major Regulatory Action: Warning Letter (August 2019)

Detailed Quality Reports & Inspection History

Unlike Emcure’s newer facilities in Gujarat (which recently received a “clean” status), the Hinjewadi facility has a troubled regulatory history with the US FDA that has not yet been fully publicly resolved “close-out” as of late 2025.

1. The “Import Alert” (Ban) Status

  • Status: The facility is under Import Alert 66-40.
  • Meaning: This effectively bans most products manufactured at this site from entering the US market. The FDA placed this ban due to violations of “Good Manufacturing Practices” (GMP).
  • The “Exception” for HIV Drugs: Crucially, the US FDA often grants exemptions for essential drugs where there is a shortage or medical necessity. Certain antiretrovirals (like Cidofovir and likely Maraviroc/Axentri) have historically been excluded from the ban, allowing them to be exported despite the facility’s overall non-compliant status.

2. Key FDA Observations (The “Red Flags”) The 2019 Warning Letter (which followed a 2015 ban) cited specific quality failures at Hinjewadi that impacted its reputation:

  • Data Integrity: The most damaging finding was that data regarding sterility and quality testing was not reliable. The FDA cited instances where test results were potentially manipulated to pass batches that should have failed.
  • Sterility Issues: For injectable lines, investigators found poor aseptic techniques (e.g., operators moving too quickly, disrupting sterile airflow) and contaminated media plates.
  • Environmental Monitoring: Failure to properly monitor the manufacturing environment for bacteria/contaminants.

Current Verdict on “Axentri” Quality

  • For the US Market: The facility is not considered fully compliant with US standards, but Axentri (as an HIV drug) likely falls under a “medical necessity” exemption allowing it to be sold.

Summary: While Emcure as a company has cleaned up its act in 2024–2025 (clearing inspections at its Sanand and Gujarat plants), the Hinjewadi facility where Axentri is made remains the “legacy problem” site with unresolved US FDA warning letters. The quality is sufficient for domestic approval but has historically failed to meet the higher bar of US regulatory clearance.

Am I meant to be cutting it into 10 segments?! :flushed::scream:. I’ve been taking 150mg twice daily (or a total of 300mg per day) for the last month. Feel fine and both my neuro- physiotherapist and personal trainer have noted fresh plasticity and progress.

Walter_Brown

Been on it for three weeks at 15-mg BID.

My question was based on your statement above of 15-mg BID several posts back. Now, should the dose be 15 mg BID or 150 mg BID? I’m not sure, but it seems to me that I saw somewhere in a RapAdmin post on Maraviroc that 15 mg BID or 30 mg daily would be appropriate.

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