Adlumiz (anamorelin) / Helsinn, Ono Pharma, Specialised Therap - LARVOL DELTA

The Optimal Timing for Initiating Anamorelin in the Treatment of Cancer Cachexia. (PubMed, Cureus) - "Comparing CRP ≤0.5 mg/dL vs. CRP >0.5 mg/dL, survival was significantly longer for CRP ≤0.5 mg/dL (p < 0.01). Conclusions Initiating anamorelin treatment with close attention to CRP and ensuring that prescribing criteria are met may be helpful in treating cachexia."

Journal • Anorexia • Cachexia • Colon Cancer • Colorectal Cancer • Gastric Cancer • Lung Cancer • Non Small Cell Lung Cancer • Oncology • Pancreatic Cancer • Solid Tumor • CRP

Association between the Pretreatment Body Mass Index and Anamorelin's Efficacy in Patients with Cancer Cachexia: A Retrospective Cohort Study. (PubMed, Acta Med Okayama) - "Together these results indicate that it is beneficial to initiate ANAM treatment before a patient's BMI drops below 19.5 kg/m2. Our findings will help advance cancer cachexia treatment and serve as a reference for clinicians to predict ANAM's efficacy."

Journal • Retrospective data • Anorexia • Cachexia • Oncology

A Model-Based Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Anamorelin and Olanzapine in NSCLC Cachexia Treatment in Japan (ISPOR 2025) - "Both anamorelin and olanzapine show efficacy in NSCLC patients with cachexia, but further evaluation is needed from a cost-effectiveness perspective. Future studies should consider long-term effects and costs. Given the limitations of drug therapy alone, a comprehensive approach to cachexia, including nutritional and exercise therapy, may be necessary to enhance efficiency."

Cost effectiveness • HEOR • Cachexia • Lung Cancer • Non Small Cell Lung Cancer • Oncology • Solid Tumor

Does anamorelin have beneficial effects in advanced cancer patients with systemic inflammation in the real world? (PubMed, Invest New Drugs) - No abstract available

Journal • Real-world evidence • Oncology

Ghrelin-LEAP2 interactions along the stomach-liver axis. (PubMed, Endocr J) - "Anamorelin, a low-molecular-weight ghrelin agonist, has been launched in Japan for the treatment of cancer cachexia, and its therapeutic potential has attracted attention due to the various biological activities of ghrelin...Serum LEAP2 elevated and ghrelin reduced in obesity. Ghrelin and LEAP2 regulate body weight, food intake, and GH and blood glucose concentrations, and other physiological phenomena through their interactions with the same receptor, GHSR."

Journal • Review • Cachexia • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Genetic Disorders • Obesity • Oncology

Anamorelin in the Management of Cancer Cachexia: Clinical Efficacy, Challenges, and Future Directions. (PubMed, Anticancer Res) - "Based on several retrospective datasets, the initiation of anamorelin at earlier stages of cancer cachexia, combined with nutritional and exercise therapy, should be considered. However, current evidence is insufficient, and results of future studies are awaited."

Clinical • Journal • Review • Cachexia • Oncology

Anamorelin Induced Hyperglycemia in a Patient with Type 1 Diabetes by Stimulating Growth Hormone Secretion: A Case Report. (PubMed, Intern Med) - "These results suggest that anamorelin stimulates GH secretion and induces hyperglycemia. Our findings suggest the need to take special care of hyperglycemia when anamorelin is prescribed to patients with type 1 diabetes."

Journal • Cachexia • Diabetes • Metabolic Disorders • Oncology • Respiratory Diseases • Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Anamorelin Efficacy in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients With Cachexia: Insights From ROMANA 1 and ROMANA 2. (PubMed, J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle) - P3 | "Anamorelin improved body composition parameters in all patients, as well as physical function and symptom burden, particularly in patients with systemic inflammation, BMI < 20 kg/m2 and weight loss ≥ 10%. These results highlight that the anabolic mechanisms of anamorelin are more effective in high-risk groups."

Clinical • Journal • Anorexia • Cachexia • Immunology • Lung Cancer • Non Small Cell Lung Cancer • Oncology • Solid Tumor • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

Significance of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting the Efficacy of Anamorelin for Cancer Cachexia. (PubMed, Cureus) - "ROC analysis identified a baseline NLR < 4.4 as predictive of achieving a posttreatment NLR < 5 (AUC, 0.78; sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 75%), with significantly higher one-year OS observed in the baseline NLR < 4.4 group (68%, n = 29/42) compared to the NLR ≥ 4.4 group (34%, n = 8/24). Conclusions These findings highlight the potential of NLR as a prognostic marker and suggest that initiating anamorelin treatment with a baseline NLR < 4.4 is likely to improve outcomes, emphasizing the importance of NLR-based therapeutic interventions."

Journal • Cachexia • Colorectal Cancer • Gastric Cancer • Hepatology • Lung Cancer • Non Small Cell Lung Cancer • Oncology • Pancreatic Cancer • Solid Tumor

Anamorelin as a Therapeutic Option for Cancer Cachexia in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: A Case Report Demonstrating Significant Weight Gain and Quality of Life Improvement. (PubMed, Intern Med) - "Cachexia's complex metabolic changes make treatment difficult; however, anamorelin's appetite and weight gain effects highlight its possible role in managing cachexia in pancreatic cancer. Therefore, further research is required in this regard."

HEOR • Journal • Cachexia • Hepatology • Oncology • Pancreatic Cancer • Solid Tumor

Plain language summary of a clinical study: anamorelin for treatment of Japanese people with gastrointestinal cancer and cachexia. (PubMed, Future Oncol) - No abstract available

Journal • Cachexia • Gastrointestinal Cancer • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Oncology • Solid Tumor

Plain language summary of a clinical study: anamorelin for treatment of Japanese people with non-small cell lung cancer and cachexia. (PubMed, Future Oncol) - No abstract available

Journal • Cachexia • Lung Cancer • Non Small Cell Lung Cancer • Oncology • Solid Tumor

The structure and function of the ghrelin receptor coding for drug actions. (PubMed, Nat Struct Mol Biol) - "To tackle this common issue across a broad drug target, this study aims to understand how anamorelin, the only approved drug targeting the ghrelin receptor, operates compared to other synthetic drugs...Moreover, our study showcased the utility of structural information in effectively identifying natural genetic variations altering drug action and causing severe functional deficiencies, offering a basis for selecting the right medication on the basis of the individual's genomic sequence. Thus, by building on structural analysis, this study enhances the foundational framework for selecting therapeutic agents targeting the ghrelin receptor, by effectively leveraging signaling bias and genetic variations."

Journal • Anorexia • Diabetes • Genetic Disorders • Metabolic Disorders • Obesity

Investigation of the association between therapeutic effectiveness of anamorelin and Glasgow prognostic score in patients with cancer cachexia: a competing risk analysis. (PubMed, Invest New Drugs) - "Additionally, TTF was shorter in patients with a GPS of 2 with a GPS of 0 or 1 (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio 2.22 [95% CI 1.22-4.03], P = 0.009). Anamorelin could be more effective in improving appetite and prolonging the duration of treatment effect in patients with a GPS of 0 or 1 than those with a GPS of 2."

Journal • Cachexia • Lung Cancer • Non Small Cell Lung Cancer • Oncology • Solid Tumor

Mechanisms and pharmacotherapy of cancer cachexia-associated anorexia. (PubMed, Pharmacol Res Perspect) - "Nevertheless, several agents have recently emerged, including anamorelin, a ghrelin receptor agonist, growth differentiation factor 15 neutralization therapy, and melanocortin receptor antagonist, as candidates for ameliorating anorexia associated with cancer cachexia. Therefore, in this review, we outline cancer cachexia-associated anorexia and its pharmacotherapy, including corticosteroids, progesterone analogs, cannabinoids, anti-psychotics, and thalidomide which have been previously explored for their efficacy, in addition to the aforementioned novel agents, along with their mechanisms."

Journal • Review • Anorexia • Cachexia • Cardiovascular • CNS Disorders • Congestive Heart Failure • Heart Failure • Metabolic Disorders • Oncology • Renal Disease • Targeted Protein Degradation • GDF15

Early administration of anamorelin improves cancer cachexia in gastrointestinal cancer patients: an observational study. (PubMed, Sci Rep) - "In the univariate analysis, anamorelin treatment before second-line chemotherapy correlated with weight gain at 12 weeks and with improved overall survival in patients with weight gain at 12 weeks. Early anamorelin treatment contributes to appetite improvement and BW gain in colorectal and gastric cancers with cachexia."

Journal • Observational data • Retrospective data • Cachexia • Colorectal Cancer • Gastric Cancer • Gastrointestinal Cancer • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Oncology • Solid Tumor

Protective role of ghrelin against 6PPD-quinone-induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio) via the GHSR pathway. (PubMed, Ecotoxicol Environ Saf) - "Notably, anamorelin, a growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) agonist, recovered the behavioral deficits induced by 6PPD-Q, implying a neuroprotective role of ghrelin possibly mediated via the ghrelin/GHSR pathway. Collectively, our findings indicate that ghrelin upregulation may counteract 6PPD-Q toxicity in zebrafish larvae, shedding light on potential therapeutic avenues for mitigating the adverse effects of this antioxidant byproduct."

Journal • RUNX2

NCI-2018-01593: Anamorelin Hydrochloride in Reducing Anorexia in Patients With Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (clinicaltrials.gov) - P2/3 | N=25 | Active, not recruiting | Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | Trial completion date: Dec 2024 ➔ Dec 2026 | Trial primary completion date: Dec 2024 ➔ Dec 2026

Metastases • Trial completion date • Trial primary completion date • Anorexia • Cachexia • Lung Cancer • Non Small Cell Lung Cancer • Oncology • Solid Tumor

Efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy for cancer cachexia: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. (PubMed, Cancer Med) - "Both olanzapine and anamorelin are useful in improving body weight in patients with cancer cachexia. Personalization may be helpful for different patients."

Clinical • Journal • Retrospective data • Review • Cachexia • Oncology

Impact of the Combination of Anamorelin and Rehabilitation on Functional and Nutritional Outcomes in Patients with Cancer Cachexia. (PubMed, Nutr Cancer) - "Significant improvements were observed in body weight (48.8 to 53.7 kg, p < 0.001), skeletal muscle mass (6.4 to 6.9 kg/m2, p < 0.001), FAACT score (11.5 to 18.0, p < 0.001), and non-dominant handgrip strength (20.5 to 21.7 kg, p = 0.018) after 12 wk. Early initiation of anamorelin with regular rehabilitation is recommended to enhance nutritional status and motor function in patients with cancer cachexia."

Journal • Cachexia • Oncology

Therapeutic Effects, Side Effects, and Adverse Effects of Neuropsychiatric Drugs in the Context of Treating Cancer-Related Anorexia With Olanzapine and Mirtazapine. (PubMed, J Clin Psychiatry) - "As an example, the sedative effect of a low dose of trazodone may be useful for some patients with insomnia...Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have examined pharmacologic interventions such as progestins, corticosteroids, anamorelin, and medical cannabis for cancer related cachexia; most results have been disappointing...Another RCT, however, found that mirtazapine (30 mg/d for 8 weeks) brought no nutritional or anthropometric gain in patients with cancer and anorexia. It is concluded that olanzapine but not mirtazapine merits further investigation in patients with cancer who have anorexia and cachexia."

Adverse events • Journal • Review • Anorexia • Cachexia • CNS Disorders • Depression • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Insomnia • Oncology • Psychiatry • Sleep Disorder

Determination of anamorelin concentration in human plasma using a simple high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection method. (PubMed, Drug Discov Ther) - "The accuracy of the assay and recovery were 85.25-112.94% and > 86.58%, respectively. This proposed HPLC-UV method is simple and can be applied in clinical settings."

Journal • Cachexia • Oncology

Real-world data of anamorelin in advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients with cancer cachexia. (PubMed, BMC Palliat Care) - "ANAM may improve the outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal cancer cachexia in clinical practice."

Journal • Metastases • Real-world • Real-world evidence • Anorexia • Cachexia • Colorectal Cancer • Fatigue • Gastric Cancer • Gastrointestinal Cancer • Gastrointestinal Disorder • Hepatology • Oncology • Pancreatic Cancer • Solid Tumor

An extremely wide QRS complex tachycardia induced by anamorelin. (PubMed, J Arrhythm) - "A case study illustrates an extremely wide QRS tachycardia, posing diagnostic challenges. Anamorelin cessation led to normalization, highlighting the importance of ECG monitoring, particularly in liver-compromised patients, and hemodynamic support are crucial during suspected toxicity."

Journal • Atrial Fibrillation • Cachexia • Cardiovascular • Oncology • Ventricular Tachycardia

Editorial to "An extremely wide QRS complex tachycardia induced by anamorelin". (PubMed, J Arrhythm) - No abstract available

Journal • Atrial Fibrillation • Cardiovascular