Anamorelin significantly increased lean body mass, but not handgrip, strength in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, according to one study of 484 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and cachexia and a second study of 495 such patients. Researchers found:

• Over 12 weeks, lean body mass increased in patients assigned to anamorelin vs those assigned to placebo (median increase in one study 0.99 vs -0.47 kg; in the other study 0.65 vs -0.98 kg).

• No difference in handgrip strength was seen in either study.

• There were no differences in grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events between study groups.

• The most common grade 3-4 adverse event was hyperglycemia, occurring in 5 of 650 patients given anamorelin.

Citation: Temel JS, Abernathy AP, Currow DC, et al. Anamorelin in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer and cachexia (ROMANA 1 and ROMANA 2): results from two randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trials. [Published online ahead of print February 19, 2016]. Lancet Oncol. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(15)00558-6.