Novel therapeutic options for cachexia and sarcopenia.

Area of Science:

• Muscle wasting disorders
• Geriatric medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Cachexia and sarcopenia are characterized by muscle loss, leading to poor prognosis, increased morbidity, and mortality.
• These conditions significantly reduce patients' quality of life, manifesting as decreased muscle strength and appetite loss.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in therapeutic interventions for cachexia and sarcopenia.
• To explore treatments targeting the central nervous system and key metabolic pathways involved in muscle wasting.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent developments in cachexia and sarcopenia treatment strategies.
• Evaluation of promising agents including selective androgen receptor modulators and ghrelin agonists.
• Analysis of clinical trial data for agents like enobosarm and anamorelin.

Main Results:

• Several agents, including enobosarm and anamorelin, have shown efficacy in reversing skeletal muscle loss.
• Agents such as infliximab, tocilizumab, MABp1, and bimagrumab also demonstrated impact on muscle mass.
• A notable limitation is the limited effect of these treatments on improving physical function.

Conclusions:

• Significant progress has been made in developing potential treatments for cachexia and sarcopenia.
• More data are available on the measurable effects of drugs on nutritional and metabolic parameters.
• Further research is needed to enhance the impact of these therapies on physical function in affected patients.