Treating Cachexia Would Not Only Benefit Patients But Also Medicare

Cachexia is a devastating condition for those suffering from it and for their caregivers. But it’s also taking a toll on Medicare.

Cachexia – a syndrome characterized by weight loss that affects many people with cancer and other chronic diseases -- is tied to increased hospital admissions, longer hospital stays and?a greater need for intensive care. The condition can add thousands of dollars to hospital bills and precipitate a constellation of other health issues, research has shown.

For those diagnosed with cachexia, the most common primary payer was Medicare, according to a 2014 study published by Drugs in Context. We know that a funding crisis looms for Medicare, which covers about 67 million seniors and disabled Americans. Based on projections from the 2024 Medicare Board of Trustees’ report, Medicare is projected to be insolvent in 2036.

These financial strains could be eased by new approaches and innovations that allow us to address – or even prevent – the most expensive and debilitating aspects of chronic illnesses like cachexia.

This could be one of the benefits of an experimental medication being developed by Endevica Bio. Our promising drug candidate TCMCB07 (B07) is poised to enter phase 2 human trials, where we expect it will continue to show promise in preventing weight loss among certain cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The goal is to prevent patients from developing cachexia. In turn, this could improve patients’ quality of life and prevent hospitalization associated with the wasting syndrome.

We hope B07 will eventually provide patients and their doctors an effective method of preventing this debilitating condition and keep patients out of the hospital. There are currently no approved drugs in the U.S. to treat or prevent cachexia.

We hope to innovate our way out of cachexia altogether – saving both patients and the healthcare system from the financial impact of this condition. While we are still early in the drug development process, we know the potential to improve the lives of patients and their families is immense – as is the potential to save the healthcare system significant costs.

Dr. Marks is Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Endevica Bio.