Pfizer’s drug, called ponsegromab, is a monoclonal antibody that blocks GDF-15, a protein expressed when the body is under extreme stress. High GDF-15 levels in cancer patients are thought to be associated with loss of appetite and nausea, which led Pfizer’s scientists to hypothesize that blocking the protein’s expression could prevent the onset of cachexia.
Pfizer’s experimental drug for cancer weight loss was shown to help patients regain weight in a mid-stage study, offering fresh promise for treating the dangerous muscle-wasting condition.
In cancer patients, a syndrome called cachexia causes changes in metabolism and appetite. It can lead to the loss of critical skeletal muscle and fat that weakens the body and, in some cases, can make cancer treatments less effective. Studies suggest that as much as 30% of all cancer deaths are caused by cachexia and about 80% of patients with advanced stage cancers are affected by the condition. There are currently no drugs approved to treat it.
