Seeking an Alternative Pathway to Weight Loss

As GLP-1s have grown in popularity, there’s been an increasing amount of research into the drugs – sometimes highlighting potentially beneficial side effects but other times spotlighting troubling complications. A recent study in Physiology & Behavior falls into the latter category. Researchers concluded that GLP-1s – used for weight loss and to treat diabetes and…

Preventing Weight Loss Is Key to a Successful Cancer Treatment

Cancer patients often experience weight loss associated with cachexia, which can significantly impact the effectiveness of cancer treatments. That includes treatments such as immunotherapy and CAR T-cell therapy. A recent study showed that preventing weight loss can make treatments more effective. The study, published in the journal Blood Advances, found that cancer patients who lost…

The Threat Cachexia Poses to Heart Muscles

The heart muscle faces a silent threat in patients with cancer and other chronic diseases: a life-threatening condition called cachexia. This debilitating syndrome, characterized by severe weight loss and muscle wasting, can extend its insidious reach beyond skeletal muscles, significantly impacting the very fabric of the heart. As cachexia progresses in some patients, the muscles…

Too Much Emphasis on Rapid Weight Loss Can Be Harmful

The recent market reaction to the trial results of Novo Nordisk’s next-generation weight loss drug highlights a dangerous trend: the overemphasis on losing a significant number of pounds as the sole measure of success. Company executives earlier had predicted on investor calls that the medication, CagriSema could result in weight loss of at least 25%….

The Childhood Version of Cachexia Delivers Lasting Impacts

We’ve written about the significant toll cachexia can take on adults. But the life-threatening syndrome, characterized by the progressive loss of muscle mass and fat, can have a far more pronounced impact on children. Cachexia, often called “failure to thrive” in children, is associated with chronic illnesses such as cancer. But even if the underlying…

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…

Endevica Bio to Start Phase 2 Clinical Trial of Drug to Prevent Weight Loss in Cancer Patients

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ A peptide called TCMCB07 will be administered to patients who are diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic colorectal cancer and will undergo chemotherapy. Endevica Bio, a privately held company developing first-in-class peptide drug candidates, today announced the start of a Phase 2 clinical trial of its experimental drug TCMCB07 (B07) to prevent…

Obesity Drug Injections Pose Challenges for Patients

GLP-1 receptor agonists have become the go-to treatment for individuals struggling with obesity. While these medications have proven effective in aiding weight loss, they come with certain drawbacks. One of the most significant is the need to inject the medication, which can be inconvenient and even daunting for some patients. This can lead to poor…

GLP-1s and Vanishing Muscle Mass

GLP-1 drugs for weight loss have become popular because they’re very effective. But there are some significant risks that may not be readily apparent to patients — most notably the potential for muscle loss.  GLP-1s helps regulate blood sugar levels, appetite and satiety. This class of drugs enhances insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon release, slows gastric…