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Anamorelin hydrochloride in the treatment of cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome

    David C Currow

    * Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: david.currow@health.sa.gov.au

    Discipline of Palliative & Supportive Services, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia

    &
    Amy P Abernethy

    Center for Learning Health Care, Duke Clinical Research Institute, DUMC 3436, Durham, NC 27710, USA

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/fon.14.14

    ABSTRACT: Anamorelin hydrochloride is an orally active ghrelin receptor agonist in development by Helsinn, for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cachexia. In preclinical and clinical studies, the potent affinity of anamorelin for the ghrelin receptor is associated with significant appetite-enhancing activity and resultant improvements in body weight, lean body mass, and handgrip strength compared with placebo. The accompanying stimulatory effects on growth hormone and IGF-1 are not associated with tumor growth, and overall survival in patients with cancer is not compromised. Anamorelin is well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities identified to date. The findings of ongoing Phase III studies are needed to confirm the significant potential of anamorelin to treat NSCLC cachexia.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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