Cancer Cachexia Pipeline Insight

DelveInsight’s, “Cancer Cachexia Pipeline Insight, 2026” report provides comprehensive insights about 20+ companies and 20+ pipeline drugs in Cancer Cachexia pipeline landscape. It covers the pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and nonclinical stage products. It also covers the therapeutics assessment by product type, stage, route of administration, and molecule type. It further highlights the inactive pipeline products in this space.

Geography Covered

Global coverage

Cancer Cachexia Disease Understanding

Cancer Cachexia Overview

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial metabolic syndrome characterized by ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass, with or without loss of adipose tissue that cannot be fully reversed by conventional nutritional support and leads to progressive functional impairment. It affects approximately 50–80% of patients with advanced cancer, particularly those with pancreatic, gastric, lung, colorectal, and esophageal malignancies, and is associated with reduced tolerance to anticancer therapy, poorer quality of life, and increased mortality. The syndrome develops through a complex interaction between the tumor, host metabolism, and systemic inflammation, resulting in persistent negative energy and protein balance. Clinical manifestations include involuntary weight loss, anorexia, fatigue, early satiety, muscle weakness, reduced physical performance, and declining functional status. Cancer cachexia is now recognized as a distinct clinical entity that requires early identification and multidisciplinary management.

The pathophysiology of cancer cachexia involves chronic systemic inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and neurohormonal alterations driven by both tumor- and host-derived factors. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-a, IL-1ß, IL-6, and interferon-?, together with tumor-derived mediators including proteolysis-inducing factor (PIF), activate the ubiquitin–proteasome and autophagy pathways, promoting skeletal muscle protein degradation while suppressing protein synthesis. Simultaneously, increased lipolysis, insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered hypothalamic appetite regulation contribute to fat loss, anorexia, and elevated resting energy expenditure.

Diagnosis is based on clinical assessment, including >5% involuntary weight loss within 6 months, or >2% weight loss in individuals with a BMI <20 kg/m² or sarcopenia, supported by nutritional evaluation, body composition analysis using CT or DXA, assessment of muscle strength, inflammatory biomarkers, and validated cachexia screening tools.

Treatment of cancer cachexia requires a multimodal approach aimed at preserving muscle mass, improving physical function, relieving symptoms, and enhancing quality of life. Nutritional counseling and individualized dietary support form the foundation of care but are insufficient as standalone interventions because metabolic abnormalities persist despite increased caloric intake. Pharmacological therapies such as megestrol acetate and short-term corticosteroids may improve appetite and weight, while emerging agents targeting inflammatory pathways, activin/myostatin signaling, ghrelin receptors, and GDF-15 are under active clinical investigation. Structured resistance and aerobic exercise, when feasible, helps maintain muscle strength and physical performance, and optimal symptom management together with effective anticancer therapy may mitigate cachexia progression. Early multidisciplinary intervention involving oncology, nutrition, rehabilitation, and palliative care specialists is recommended to optimize patient outcomes.

"Cancer Cachexia Pipeline Insight, 2026" report by DelveInsight outlays comprehensive insights of present scenario and growth prospects across the indication. A detailed picture of the Cancer Cachexia pipeline landscape is provided which includes the disease overview and Cancer Cachexia treatment guidelines. The assessment part of the report embraces, in depth Cancer Cachexia commercial assessment and clinical assessment of the pipeline products under development. In the report, detailed description of the drug is given which includes mechanism of action of the drug, clinical studies, NDA approvals (if any), and product development activities comprising the technology, Cancer Cachexia collaborations, licensing, mergers and acquisition, funding, designations and other product related details.

Cancer Cachexia Pipeline Report Highlights

The companies and academics are working to assess challenges and seek opportunities that could influence Cancer Cachexia R&D. The therapies under development are focused on novel approaches to treat/improve Cancer Cachexia.

Cancer Cachexia Emerging Drugs Chapters

This segment of the Cancer Cachexia report encloses its detailed analysis of various drugs in different stages of clinical development, including Phase III, II, I, Preclinical and Discovery. It also helps to understand clinical trial details, expressive pharmacological action, agreements and collaborations, and the latest news and press releases.

Cancer Cachexia Emerging Drugs

Visugromab: CatalYm GmbH

Visugromab (CTL-002) is an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody developed by CatalYm for the treatment of cancer-associated cachexia in patients with advanced solid tumors. It selectively neutralizes growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a stress-induced cytokine that suppresses appetite and contributes to weight loss, muscle wasting, and functional decline in cancer cachexia. By inhibiting GDF-15 signaling, visugromab is intended to restore appetite, promote body weight gain, preserve muscle mass, and improve physical performance. It is currently being evaluated in the adaptive, randomized Phase II/III VINCIT trial assessing its efficacy and safety versus placebo in patients with cancer-associated cachexia.

DS010: Dartsbio Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

DS010 is an investigational biologic being developed by Dartsbio Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer cachexia, a multifactorial syndrome characterized by progressive weight and skeletal muscle loss in patients with advanced cancer. The therapy is administered as an intravenous injection and is designed to improve body weight, muscle mass, appetite, and overall physical function by targeting key pathways involved in cachexia. DS010 is currently being evaluated in a Phase I/II dose-escalation and expansion study assessing its safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy in patients with cancer cachexia. The trial also measures changes in body weight, skeletal muscle index, appetite, and quality-of-life outcomes to determine its therapeutic potential.

AV-380: AVEO Oncology

AV-380 is an investigational human IgG1 monoclonal antibody being developed for the treatment of cancer cachexia in patients with metastatic solid tumors. It selectively binds and neutralizes circulating growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a stress-induced cytokine implicated in appetite suppression, weight loss, and muscle wasting associated with cancer cachexia. By blocking GDF-15 signaling, AV-380 is intended to improve appetite, preserve lean body mass, and enhance physical function while patients continue standard-of-care chemotherapy. The agent is currently being evaluated in a Phase I dose-escalation trial assessing its safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity, and preliminary efficacy in patients with cancer cachexia and elevated GDF-15 levels.

Further product details are provided in the report…

Cancer Cachexia Therapeutic Assessment

This segment of the report provides insights about the different Cancer Cachexia drugs segregated based on following parameters that define the scope of the report, such as:

Major Players in Cancer Cachexia

There are approx. 20+ key companies which are developing the therapies for Cancer Cachexia. The companies which have their Cancer Cachexia drug candidates in the mid stage, i.e. Phase II/III include, CatalYm GmbH.

Cancer Cachexia Clinical Trial Phases

DelveInsight’s report covers around 20+ products under different phases of clinical development like

Late stage products (Phase III)
Mid-stage products (Phase II)
Early-stage product (Phase I) along with the details of
Pre-clinical and Discovery stage candidates
Discontinued & Inactive candidates

Cancer Cachexia Drugs Route of Administration

Cancer Cachexia pipeline report provides the therapeutic assessment of the pipeline drugs by the Route of Administration. Products have been categorized under various ROAs such as

Oral
Intravenous
Subcutaneous
Parenteral
Topical

Cancer Cachexia Drugs Molecule Type

Products have been categorized under various Molecule types such as

Recombinant fusion proteins
Small molecule
Monoclonal antibody
Peptide
Polymer
Gene therapy

Cancer Cachexia Pipeline Product Type

Drugs have been categorized under various product types like Mono, Combination and Mono/Combination.

Cancer Cachexia Pipeline Development Activities

The report provides insights into different therapeutic candidates in Phase III, II, I, preclinical and discovery stage. It also analyses Cancer Cachexia therapeutic drugs key players involved in developing key drugs.

Cancer Cachexia Clinical Trials Development Activities

The report covers the detailed information of collaborations, acquisition and merger, licensing along with a thorough therapeutic assessment of emerging Cancer Cachexia drugs.

Cancer Cachexia Pipeline Report Insights

Cancer Cachexia Pipeline Analysis
Cancer Cachexia Therapeutic Assessment
Cancer Cachexia Unmet Needs
Impact of Cancer Cachexia Drugs

Cancer Cachexia Pipeline Report Assessment

Cancer Cachexia Pipeline Product Profiles
Cancer Cachexia Therapeutic Assessment
Cancer Cachexia Pipeline Assessment
Inactive Cancer Cachexia drugs assessment
Cancer Cachexia Unmet Needs

Key Questions Answered In The Cancer Cachexia Pipeline Report:

Current Treatment Scenario and Emerging Therapies:
How many companies are developing Cancer Cachexia drugs?
How many Cancer Cachexia drugs are developed by each company?
How many emerging drugs are in mid-stage, and late-stage of development for the treatment of Cancer Cachexia?
What are the key collaborations (Industry–Industry, Industry–Academia), Mergers and acquisitions, licensing activities related to the Cancer Cachexia therapeutics?
What are the recent trends, drug types and novel technologies developed to overcome the limitation of existing therapies?
What are the clinical studies going on for Cancer Cachexia and their status?
What are the key designations that have been granted to the emerging drugs?