Cancer Cachexia Market Size and Share
Cancer Cachexia Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence
The cancer cachexia market generated USD 2.83 billion in 2025 and is forecast to advance at a 4.19% CAGR, reaching USD 3.48 billion by 2030, as breakthrough therapeutics move from proof-of-concept into registration studies and early diagnosis programs widen the eligible patient pool. Ongoing convergence of oncology survivorship gains, biomarker-enabled patient identification, and clear regulatory guidance positions the cancer cachexia market for durable expansion. Growth is anchored by ghrelin receptor agonists that already hold clinical traction, yet next-generation agents blocking GDF-15, myostatin, or dual anabolic-catabolic pathways are set to diversify the competitive field. Hospital pharmacies remain the dominant dispensing venue because of complex initiation protocols, although digital inventory solutions let online channels accelerate share capture. Regional momentum hinges on the United States, Japan, and China, where government-backed reimbursement pilots have begun to classify cachexia as a distinct treatable condition rather than a palliative endpoint.
Key Report Takeaways
- By therapeutic class, ghrelin receptor agonists led with 34.56% of cancer cachexia market share in 2024; beta-blockers / ACTAs are projected to grow at a 6.56% CAGR through 2030.
- By mechanism of action, appetite stimulators commanded 46.54% share of the cancer cachexia market size in 2024, while catabolic-pathway inhibitors are advancing at a 6.83% CAGR through 2030.
- By cancer type, lung cancer accounted for 29.54% of the cancer cachexia market size in 2024; hematologic malignancies post the fastest growth at 7.99% CAGR to 2030.
- By stage, established cachexia represented 48.43% of volume in 2024, yet pre-cachexia interventions are expanding at a 7.82% CAGR.
- By distribution channel, hospital pharmacies held 52.34% revenue share in 2024, whereas online pharmacies record a 7.65% CAGR through 2030.
- By geography, North America contributed 43.45% revenue in 2024; Asia-Pacific is the quickest-growing region with a 5.43% CAGR through 2030.
Global Cancer Cachexia Market Trends and Insights
Driver Impact Analysis
Driver | % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
Rising cancer prevalence and patient survival | +1.2% | Global, concentrated in North America and Europe | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
High unmet clinical need for weight and muscle preservation | +0.9% | Global, acute in Asia-Pacific emerging markets | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Advancements in cachexia pathophysiology understanding | +0.8% | North America and EU research hubs, spillover to Asia-Pacific | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Expanding oncology drug pipeline and combination opportunities | +0.7% | Global, led by United States FDA pathway establishment | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Favorable reimbursement and regulatory support in key markets | +0.5% | North America and EU, emerging in Japan | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Growing adoption of multimodal care approaches | +0.4% | Global, fastest uptake in integrated health systems | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Rising Cancer Prevalence and Patient Survival
Global incidence rose to more than 20 million new diagnoses in 2024 and 5-year survival now averages 68%, effectively enlarging the at-risk population and prolonging the window for metabolic decline[1]National Cancer Institute, “Cancer Statistics Snapshot,” cancer.gov. Longer survival turns cachexia into a chronic comorbidity rather than a terminal sign, making durable pharmacologic control essential. Immuno-oncology agents further alter weight-loss trajectories, creating episodic muscle-wasting phases that require repeat intervention. Since ageing populations overlap with higher cancer incidence, cumulative prevalence stacks year over year. These structural forces bind the cancer cachexia market to the broader oncology growth curve.
High Unmet Clinical Need for Weight and Muscle Preservation
Absence of FDA-approved drugs in the American and European markets leaves physicians with off-label corticosteroids and megestrol, neither of which sustain lean body mass or functional capacity. Oncologists increasingly view cachexia as a limiting factor for chemotherapy dose intensity and immunotherapy response, thereby elevating demand for agents that prevent muscle atrophy. Health-related quality-of-life surveys consistently rank weight stability as a top priority for patients, yet current regimens offer marginal benefit. Diagnostic opacity compounds the treatment gap because dissimilar criteria obstruct multicenter trials and reimbursement audits.
Advancements in Cachexia Pathophysiology Understanding
Discovery of GDF-15 as a master signaling cytokine has unlocked precision interventions, exemplified by ponsegromab’s 5.6% mean weight gain over placebo in Phase 2 cancer cohorts[2]New England Journal of Medicine Editorial Board, “Targeting GDF-15 in Cancer Cachexia,” nejm.org. Molecular stratification now segments patients by inflammatory load, mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein turnover rates, enabling tailored study designs that meet regulatory evidentiary standards. Biomarker panels for early detection encourage pre-cachexia enrollment where pathology is still reversible. Academic-industry consortia accelerate validation of metabolic and genetic predictors, shortening translation timelines between bench and bedside.
Expanding Oncology Drug Pipeline and Combination Opportunities
Integration of cachexia endpoints into mainstream oncology protocols is growing as pharma sponsors evaluate the additive value of lean body mass preservation on progression-free survival. Combination trials pair cachexia candidates with checkpoint inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, or cytotoxics to test bidirectional tumor and host metabolism control. Dual-purpose strategies improve overall treatment adherence and can unlock higher tolerated dosing in primary cancer therapy, giving cachexia developers strong partnering leverage. Regulatory agencies encourage such alliances through streamlined investigational new drug amendments.
Restraints Impact Analysis
Restraints Impact Analysis | (~) % Impact on CAGR Forecast | Geographic Relevance | Impact Timeline |
---|---|---|---|
Limited approved pharmacotherapies | −0.8% | Global, most acute in North America and Europe | Short term (≤ 2 years) |
Safety and efficacy concerns of novel agents | −0.6% | Global, heightened regulatory scrutiny in United States and EU | Medium term (2-4 years) |
Lack of standardized diagnostic criteria and trial endpoints | −0.5% | Global | Medium term (2-4 years) |
High development costs and reimbursement uncertainty | −0.4% | Global, pronounced in markets with cost-effectiveness mandates | Long term (≥ 4 years) |
Source: Mordor Intelligence
Limited Approved Pharmacotherapies
The European Medicines Agency’s rejection of anamorelin on grounds of insufficient functional benefit demonstrates how variable endpoint expectations chill developer confidence[3]European Medicines Agency, “Assessment Report for Anamorelin,” ema.europa.eu. Weight and appetite metrics alone rarely satisfy payers that seek validated correlations with hospitalization rates or survival. Without clear precedents, pipeline companies shoulder heavier financial risk and often opt to co-develop with larger partners, slowing overall innovation velocity. Absence of label-approved choices also perpetuates heterogeneity in clinical practice, masking true demand.
Safety and Efficacy Concerns of Novel Agents
Cachexia patients carry complex comorbidities and polypharmacy loads, so regulators scrutinize adverse-event profiles meticulously, especially for agents modulating central or cardiovascular pathways. Limited long-term data raises questions around sustained anabolic stimulation and potential tumor-growth signaling. Post-marketing pharmacovigilance commitments can inflate total development cost, nudging smaller biotech firms toward early licensing exits. Efficacy validation is further complicated by disease heterogeneity because single-pathway inhibitors may show modest aggregate improvement despite robust responses in molecularly defined subgroups.
Segment Analysis
By Therapeutic Class: Ghrelin Agonists Lead amid ACTA Innovation
Ghrelin receptor agonists held 34.56% cancer cachexia market share in 2024, reflecting Japan’s clinical familiarity with anamorelin and supportive real-world data collected from more than 6,000 treated patients. The cancer cachexia market size for this class is projected to maintain steady momentum through incremental uptake in markets that await novel approvals. However, beta-blocker-based anabolic-catabolic transforming agents (ACTAs) are on course for a 6.56% CAGR, propelled by S-pindolol’s Phase 2 success in colorectal cancer cohorts showing simultaneous attenuation of proteolysis and stimulation of muscle protein synthesis.
Drug developers increasingly bundle ghrelin agonists with anti-inflammatory or androgen receptor modulators to enhance efficacy. Progestogens and corticosteroids retain niche utility in advanced disease but contribute marginal incremental revenue because metabolic toxicity limits long-term dosing schedules. Selective androgen receptor modulators like enobosarm offer mechanistic novelty, though regulators continue to scrutinize safety for chronic administration. Portfolio strategies therefore gravitate toward mechanistic diversification, with companies balancing the validated appetite route against emerging ACTA combinations.
Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Mechanism of Action: Appetite Stimulation Dominance Challenged by Pathway Inhibitors
Appetite stimulators secured 46.54% of the 2024 revenue pool, yet catabolic-pathway inhibitors are forecast for the fastest 6.83% CAGR, mirroring rising clinician belief that caloric intake alone cannot halt sarcopenia. Appetite-based agents will still anchor first-line therapy in regions where regulatory clearance favors well-studied molecules, but second-generation treatments now bypass feeding behavior altogether to block muscle proteasome activation. The cancer cachexia industry thus witnesses a pivot toward agents that interrupt ubiquitin ligase activity or downstream inflammatory cascades.
Anabolic support through selective androgen receptor binding and myostatin inhibition continues to fill pipeline slots, often in multimodal regimens. Immunomodulators targeting IL-1 or TNF-alpha show additive effects when paired with ghrelin agonists, suggesting a future in which combination ecosystems replace monotherapy dominance. Dual-acting ACTAs epitomize this shift by delivering weight gain alongside improved hand-grip strength, a regulatory-recognized functional endpoint in Europe. Industry analysts anticipate that categorical boundaries will blur as companies patent merged mechanisms to defend franchise value.
By Cancer Type: Lung Cancer Leadership with Hematologic Surge
Lung cancer remained the single largest contributing indication, accounting for 29.54% of the cancer cachexia market size in 2024 because systemic inflammation, chronic hypoxia, and aggressive therapy regimens intersect to accelerate weight decline. Yet hematologic malignancies display a compelling 7.99% CAGR outlook, reflecting longer survival driven by CAR-T and bispecific antibodies that extend exposure to catabolic signaling.
Gastro-intestinal cancers form a sizeable segment because surgical resections and malabsorption compound metabolic deficits, leading to early therapeutic intervention. Hormone-sensitive tumors like breast and prostate show moderate cachexia incidence but benefit from rising clinical vigilance. Trial protocols are beginning to stratify by tumor biology as data reveal divergent cytokine signatures influencing drug response, thereby advancing precision dosing algorithms.
By Stage of Cachexia: Pre-Cachexia Prevention Gains Momentum
Pre-cachexia therapy is expanding at a 7.82% CAGR as standardized screening flags subtle involuntary weight losses and inflammatory markers months before clinical wasting appears. Early initiation correlates with stronger lean mass preservation and improved treatment tolerance, prompting oncologists to integrate muscle health checks into baseline work-ups. In contrast, established cachexia still controlled 48.43% of 2024 volumes because legacy diagnostic habits centered on late-stage weight loss.
Refractory cachexia remains the most refractory category, often limited to palliative measures and under-represented in trials because of high morbidity. Industry focus is shifting toward risk prediction algorithms that can route patients into pre-emptive protocols, leveraging AI models with accuracy ranges of 77-85% in multicenter validation studies. These tools support a prevention market that may ultimately eclipse late-stage therapy as clinical guidelines evolve.

Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase
By Distribution Channel: Hospital Dominance amid Digital Transformation
Hospital pharmacies captured 52.34% revenue in 2024, highlighting the need for oncologist supervision during induction and early titration. The cancer cachexia market size for hospital sales will remain substantial because agents like ponsegromab require monitoring of cardiovascular and metabolic parameters. Online pharmacies nevertheless post a 7.65% CAGR as tele-oncology gains reimbursement legitimacy and cold-chain logistics mature.
Specialty retail outlets adopt medically integrated dispensing models that bridge chemotherapy suites and community practice, although reimbursement lags dampen penetration. Digital adherence programs, weight-tracking applications, and virtual counseling augment oral regimens, creating a hybrid service architecture. Health systems evaluate outcome-based contracts where pharmas rebate cost if patients fail to maintain predefined muscle benchmarks, incentivizing extended digital follow-up.
Geography Analysis
North America generated 43.45% of global revenue in 2024 thanks to resilient R&D financing, extensive clinical trial networks, and early inclusion of cachexia endpoints within major registrational studies. Academic centers routinely embed metabolic monitoring within oncology pathways, driving timely diagnosis and referral to supportive care clinics. Despite this edge, reimbursement headwinds linger because private payers weigh short-term drug costs against yet-to-be-quantified hospitalization savings.
Asia-Pacific is advancing at a 5.43% CAGR through 2030, propelled by Japan’s landmark anamorelin listing and China’s rapidly scaling oncology infrastructure. Harmonized guidelines across Korea, Australia, and Singapore are shortening review timelines for foreign dossiers. Local biotech pipelines target myostatin and GDF-15 pathways, reflecting strong government incentives for first-in-class launches. Public-private partnerships invest in muscle health programs that bundle nutritional counseling with pharmacotherapy, accelerating demand for comprehensive solutions.
Europe shows moderate growth as fragmented reimbursement landscapes slow rollout. The EMA’s insistence on functional endpoints has delayed market entry for several candidates, yet national cancer plans are now adding cachexia screening metrics, which should lift diagnosis rates. Leading institutions in Germany and Italy pilot multimodal clinics pairing physiotherapists with pharmacologic regimens, generating real-world data that could tip cost-effectiveness evaluations in favor of adoption.

Competitive Landscape
Nineteen notable companies share the global arena, none with more than low-double-digit sales, which confers a market concentration score of 4. Pfizer leverages ponsegromab and alliance depth to set regulatory precedents, while Actimed Therapeutics exploits ACTA know-how to carve specialist mindshare. Helsinn extends anamorelin lifecycle through post-marketing surveillance and regional licensing, keeping the ghrelin franchise relevant.
Digital health entrants collaborate with pharma to layer algorithmic patient selection over traditional trial recruitment, shrinking enrollment windows and boosting statistical power. Patent dossiers reveal clustering around GDF-15 antibodies, myostatin inhibitors, and selective androgen receptor modulators, with many filings covering delivery vectors and combination methods to widen barriers to entry.
Mergers and acquisitions illustrate strategic appetite for supportive-care diversification, highlighted by Merck KGaA’s USD 3.9 billion SpringWorks Therapeutics takeover, which adds rare-tumor know-how adaptable to cachexia. Licensing deals structure milestone-heavy payments tied to functional endpoints, signaling heightened confidence in late-stage value realization. Small biotechs maintain negotiating leverage through phenotype-specific data packages that complement large-cap portfolios.
Cancer Cachexia Industry Leaders
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Helsinn Group
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Ono Pharmaceutical
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Actimed Therapeutics
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Pfizer Inc.
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Bristol-Myers Squibb
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order

Recent Industry Developments
- April 2025: Merck KGaA announced acquisition of SpringWorks Therapeutics for USD 3.9 billion, expanding presence in oncology supportive care.
- March 2025: Henlius Biotech received FDA Orphan Drug Designation for HLX22 anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody in gastric cancer.
- January 2025: Biomed Industries presented combination therapy protocol of NA-931 quadruple receptor agonist with Tirzepatide at ICOCD-2025, demonstrating weight management potential without muscle loss in Phase 1 results.
- December 2024: Pfizer published ponsegromab Phase 2 results in New England Journal of Medicine, showing 5.6% weight gain versus placebo.
- December 2024: Endevica Bio initiated Phase 2 trial for TCMCB07 peptide to prevent weight loss in metastatic colorectal cancer.
Global Cancer Cachexia Market Report Scope
As per the scope of the report, cancer cachexia is a wasting syndrome characterized by weight loss, anorexia, asthenia, and anemia. The pathogenicity of this syndrome is multifactorial due to a complex interaction of tumor and host factors. The signs and symptoms of cachexia are considered as the prognostic parameters in cancer patients. Cancer cachexia drugs are used to treat or alleviate the condition. The cancer cachexia market is segmented by therapeutics (progestogen, corticosteroid, combination therapy, and other therapeutics), mechanism of action (appetite stimulators and weight loss stabilizers), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle-East and Africa, and South America). The market report also covers the estimated market sizes and trends for 17 countries across major regions globally. The report offers the value (in USD million) for the above segments.
By Therapeutic Class | Ghrelin Receptor Agonists | ||
Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) | |||
Beta-blockers / ACTAs | |||
Progestogens | |||
Corticosteroids | |||
Combination Therapy | |||
Other Therapeutic Classess | |||
By Mechanism of Action | Appetite Stimulators | ||
Anabolic Agents | |||
Catabolic-Pathway Inhibitors | |||
Anti-inflammatory / Immunomodulators | |||
Multi-target ACTAs | |||
By Cancer Type | Lung Cancer | ||
Gastro-intestinal Cancers | |||
Breast Cancer | |||
Prostate Cancer | |||
Hematologic Malignancies | |||
Other Cancer Types | |||
By Stage of Cachexia | Pre-cachexia | ||
Established Cachexia | |||
Refractory Cachexia | |||
By Distribution Channel | Hospital Pharmacies | ||
Retail Pharmacies | |||
Online Pharmacies | |||
Geography | North America | United States | |
Canada | |||
Mexico | |||
Europe | Germany | ||
United Kingdom | |||
France | |||
Italy | |||
Spain | |||
Rest of Europe | |||
Asia-Pacific | China | ||
Japan | |||
India | |||
Australia | |||
South Korea | |||
Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
Middle East & Africa | GCC | ||
South Africa | |||
Rest of Middle East & Africa | |||
South America | Brazil | ||
Argentina | |||
Rest of South America |
Ghrelin Receptor Agonists |
Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) |
Beta-blockers / ACTAs |
Progestogens |
Corticosteroids |
Combination Therapy |
Other Therapeutic Classess |
Appetite Stimulators |
Anabolic Agents |
Catabolic-Pathway Inhibitors |
Anti-inflammatory / Immunomodulators |
Multi-target ACTAs |
Lung Cancer |
Gastro-intestinal Cancers |
Breast Cancer |
Prostate Cancer |
Hematologic Malignancies |
Other Cancer Types |
Pre-cachexia |
Established Cachexia |
Refractory Cachexia |
Hospital Pharmacies |
Retail Pharmacies |
Online Pharmacies |
North America | United States |
Canada | |
Mexico | |
Europe | Germany |
United Kingdom | |
France | |
Italy | |
Spain | |
Rest of Europe | |
Asia-Pacific | China |
Japan | |
India | |
Australia | |
South Korea | |
Rest of Asia-Pacific | |
Middle East & Africa | GCC |
South Africa | |
Rest of Middle East & Africa | |
South America | Brazil |
Argentina | |
Rest of South America |
Key Questions Answered in the Report
What is the current value of the cancer cachexia market?
The market was valued at USD 2.83 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 3.48 billion by 2030.
Which therapeutic class leads the cancer cachexia market?
Ghrelin receptor agonists lead with 34.56% market share thanks to widespread use of anamorelin in Japan.
Which mechanism of action is growing fastest?
Catabolic-pathway inhibitors show the highest projected CAGR at 6.83% through 2030 as clinicians prioritize muscle preservation over appetite stimulation.
Which cancer type offers the strongest growth opportunity?
Hematologic malignancies are forecast to expand at a 7.99% CAGR because extended survival from novel therapies increases cachexia risk.
Which region is expanding most rapidly?
Asia-Pacific posts the quickest growth at 5.43% CAGR due to increased oncology capacity and supportive regulatory pathways.
Why is early intervention emphasized in cachexia management?
Pre-cachexia treatment preserves lean body mass before irreversible wasting occurs, leading to better therapy tolerance and lower downstream healthcare costs.
Page last updated on: June 30, 2025