The Cost of Cachexia Extends Beyond Physical Symptoms

Cachexia, a condition characterized by muscle wasting and fatigue, often lurks beneath the surface of chronic illnesses such as cancer and renal failure and can make it harder to fight infections and recover from treatments. While the physical toll is significant, the financial burden can be as well.

Cachexia’s destruction of muscle strength and energy makes it difficult, if not impossible, for many to work. Patients struggle with basic tasks, leading to reduced work hours, missed days and potentially even job loss. That, in turn, can result in the loss of health insurance. For many, this can lead to financial ruin.

Endevica Bio is optimistic that our drug candidate to treat cachexia will not only save lives and alleviate suffering but also prevent the financial devastation that can accompany the physical symptoms.

There is currently no cure for cachexia, and the methods of managing it are limited. In the United States alone, an estimated 160,000 people annually are hospitalized with cachexia, according to a 2014 study in Drugs in Context. Estimates suggest that up to 80% of advanced cancer patients experience cachexia.    The economic consequences of cachexia ripple outwards, affecting not just patients and their families, but also healthcare systems. Cachexia is linked to increased hospital admissions, longer hospital stays and a greater need for intensive care. The Drugs in Context found study found that cachexia-related hospital admissions can double the length of stay and add an additional $4,600 in costs per stay compared to non-cachexia patients.

All this adds to the need to address not just the underlying illness, but prevent the devastating muscle wasting that can concurrently sap patients of the strength and resources they need to fight and live well.

By Dr. Daniel Marks, MD, PhD is Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Endevica Bio.