Could a pill help cancer patients eat again?

NCT ID NCT03637816

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether anamorelin, a drug that stimulates appetite, can help advanced lung cancer patients who have lost their appetite and weight. Researchers will interview 25 patients and compare those taking the drug to those taking a placebo. The goal is to see if the drug improves quality of life and reduces the effects of cachexia.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Anamorelin hydrochloride
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a treatment that helps cancer patients regain appetite and stop weight loss.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase study with only 25 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The drug may not work better than placebo.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • M D Anderson Cancer Center

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.