Pfizer has announced positive results from a Phase 2 trial of ponsegromab, an investigational drug aimed at treating cancer cachexia. The study demonstrated improvements in body weight, muscle mass, quality of life, and physical function in patients receiving the drug. This is a significant development as cancer cachexia, a debilitating wasting condition, affects an estimated 9 million people worldwide and currently has no FDA-approved treatments.
Phase 2 Trial Results
The Phase 2 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of ponsegromab in cancer patients experiencing cachexia. According to Dr. Jeffrey Crawford, principal investigator and George Barth Geller Professor for Research at Duke Cancer Institute, "This study showed us those who received ponsegromab had improvement in body weight, muscle mass, quality of life, and physical function."
Addressing an Unmet Need
Cancer cachexia is a complex metabolic syndrome characterized by loss of muscle mass, with or without loss of fat mass. It is distinct from starvation and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. The absence of FDA-approved treatments underscores the urgent need for effective therapies like ponsegromab.
Next Steps for Ponsegromab
Pfizer plans to initiate late-stage trials of ponsegromab next year, marking a crucial step towards potentially bringing the drug to market. If successful, ponsegromab could represent a significant advancement in the management of cancer cachexia and improve the lives of millions of patients worldwide.
