Two Phase III Anamorelin Trials Show Improved Lean Body Mass

Two phase III trials in non-small cell lung cancer patients with cachexia found that treatment with anamorelin significantly improved lean body mass and body weight compared to placebo, in addition to improving symptom burden, including appetite. No differences in handgrip strength were observed, one of the co-primary endpoints of the study.

Most participants in the trials were receiving chemotherapy. Improvements in patients’ weight and symptom burden were observed as early as three weeks and progressive, according to Helsinn, which sponsored the studies. The two studies, ROMANA 1 and ROMANA 2, were published in The Lancet Oncology.