The MOTIVATE trials: Maraviroc therapy in antiretroviral treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients

Although the use of combination antiretroviral therapy has resulted in spectacular improvements in morbidity and mortality of HIV-1 infected patients, a need for the development of antiretroviral compounds with new mechanisms of action remains. Maraviroc (Celsentri®; ViiV Healthcare, Middlesex, UK) is the only drug of the class of chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5 antagonists registered for treatment for HIV-1-infected antiretroviral therapy-experienced patients. Registration was based on the MOTIVATE-1 and-2 studies, which compared the efficacy and tolerability of maraviroc in combination with optimized background therapy with placebo. The aim of this paper is to review the MOTIVATE studies and to discuss issues related to maraviroc therapy in clinical practice such as assessment of HIV-1 coreceptor tropism.