Anagathic

Anagathics
Type	Medical
Tech Level	TL–15
Cost	Cr30,000+ per dose
Size	Various
Weight	Various

Anagathics or Antiagathics are longevity drugs, usually a mixture of several compounds that help prevent aging and prolong life in Humans and other sophonts.

• See Rejuvenation for related information.

Description

In medical terms, antiagathics are known to confer a form of biological immortality through the conference of a stable or decreasing rate of mortality from cellular senescence as a function of chronological age.

Antigathic Sources

Some sources of antiagathic substances in Charted Space include:

• Granporrian Zulanir, an avian animal from Granporr (Massilia 3035).
• The Kesternet plant from St. George (Vl 2616) (world).
• Terran Bowhead Whales (Balaena mysticetus), a marine animal from Terra (Solomani Rim 1827).
• Terran Corals, a marine animal filter from Terra (Solomani Rim 1827), which does not die of old age and exhibits potential immortality.
• Terran Horseshoe Crab, a saltwater arthropod (animal) from Terra (Solomani Rim 1827).
• Terran Hydra, a freshwater animal from Terra (Solomani Rim 1827).
• Terran Jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii, or Turritopsis nutricula), a saltwater animal from Terra (Solomani Rim 1827).
• Terran Planarian Flatworms, an animal form from Terra (Solomani Rim 1827), which does not die of old age and exhibits potential immortality.
• Terran Sponges, a marine animal filter from Terra (Solomani Rim 1827), which does not die of old age and exhibits potential immortality.
• Other sources, not yet made public.

Indication (Purpose & Use)

Antiagathics are indicated as for the limited prevention of aging and prolongation of life in Humans.

• Antiagathics have been developed for members of Humaniti as well as other species of sophonts.

Administration & Regimen

A regimen of regular monthly doses enables an individual to ignore the debilitating effects of advancing years. They need to be used starting at the age of 30, and with luck, the user may reach an age of 100 or more before old age affects the user. Because of the rarity and demand for anagathics, they are quite expensive and are often unavailable at any price.

It takes a while for the total effects of anagathics to be felt; it also takes a while for the effects of anagathics to totally go away. However there are withdrawal effects from interrupting the supply of anagathics. Obviously, anagathics are most effective if they can be taken long-term without interruption. A continually interrupted supply can have devastating effects.

Anagathics have dangerous side-effects on some users and often anagathics users take extra risks to maintain a constant supply.

Terminology

Antiagathics are known by many names throughout known space.

Formal (Medical) Antiagathic Terms

Antiagathics are also known as to the medical and life sciences community:

• Anagathics.
• Anti-aging medicine.
• Anti-senescent pharmaceuticals.
• Biomedical gerontologicals.
• Life extenders (Life extension pharmaceutical), or Indefinite life extenders.
• Regenerative medicines.
• Rejuvenators.
• SENS pharmaceutical (Solution for Engineered Negligible Senescence).

Imperial (Third Imperium) Antiagathic Terms

Antiagathics are also informally known throughout the Imperium as:

• "Amrita" among the Solomani.
• "Dorian Gray's fix" among the Solomani.
• "Iðunn's apples" among the Sword Worlders.
• "Rejuv" among the Vilani.
• "Soma" among the Vilani.
• Panacea (or panaceum), or Universal Panacea, also known as Panchrest among many medical practitioners.

Terran (Solomani Confederation) Antiagathic Terms

In the Terran culture alone, there are hundreds of names for antiagathics. Some of these names include:

• "Aab-i-Hayat"
• "Al iksir"
• "Amrita ras," the Elixir of life, also known as Amrit, the Nectar of Immortality
• "Aqua vitae," or Aqua vita
• "Arawn's cauldron," or the Annuvinian cauldron
• "Bimini juice"
• "Ceridwen's cauldron," Tuatha Dé Danann's cauldron, or Dyrnwch's cauldron
• "Elixir of life" (or "Water of Life"), or Elixir of Immortality
• "Gold juice"
• "Jade juice"
• "Maha Ras"
• "Philosopher's stone"
• "Soma ras"

History & Background (Dossier)

Antiagathics changed Imperial society in many ways.

Medical Miracle

For practitioners of medicine, Antiagathics were a miracle breakthrough, allowing doctors to delay aging and prolong life in Humans. Medical researchers are still studying the effects of antiagathic substances, of which a number of sources have been discovered on different worlds (planets) in known space.

Tool of the Elites

For those who feared an oligarchy of elites, their worst fears has come to light. The Nobles of Imperial society, can now prolong their lives by many decades. This drug makes it possible for Nobles, politicians, megacorporation CEO's, and other elites to the time in power from a short period of a decade or two to many decades and sometimes, well over a century.

It is rumored that some elites have been secretly changing their identies in an effort to avoid public scrutiny.

And cost factors prohibit all but the highest levels of society from being able to afford these pharmaceuticals.

Social Acceptance

Imperial society generally frowns on Nobles, who use antiagathics.

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• MegaTraveller Imperial Encyclopedia
• MegaTraveller Player's Manual
• Author & Contributor: Lord and Master of Sophontology (Marquis) Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science