The Global Cancer Cachexia Market, valued at USD 2.84 Billion in 2025, is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.6%, reaching USD 4.44 Billion by 2032.

The market growth is primarily driven by the increasing prevalence of cancer-related wasting syndromes, rising awareness of cachexia as a distinct clinical condition, and growing adoption of multimodal treatment approaches. Advancements in pharmacological therapies targeting inflammatory pathways, appetite stimulation, and muscle preservation are contributing to improved management outcomes.

Additionally, ongoing clinical trials exploring anabolic agents, cytokine inhibitors, and metabolic modulators, along with supportive care integration and early diagnosis initiatives, are expected to further accelerate the market expansion over the forecast period.

Market Takeaways

• By Drug, Anabolic Steroids are expected to dominate the cancer cachexia market with a 53.4% share in 2025, driven by their proven ability to enhance muscle mass, improve physical function, and alleviate fatigue in cancer patients.
• By Route of Administration, Oral is projected to lead the market with a 60.1% share in 2025, attributed to their ease of administration, better patient compliance, and the growing availability of orally active anabolic and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• By Disease Stage, early-stage cachexia is expected to account for the largest market share in 2025, driven by increasing diagnosis rates, proactive clinical management, and early nutritional and pharmacological interventions aimed at preventing progression to severe cachexia.
• Regionally, North America is anticipated to hold the largest market share in 2025, supported by a high cancer burden, strong clinical research activity focused on cachexia management, availability of approved pharmacological therapies, and comprehensive supportive care frameworks across healthcare systems.

Global Cancer Cachexia Market Report Coverage

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Report Coverage	Details
Market Revenue in 2025	USD 2.84 Billion
Estimated Value by 2032	USD 4.44 Billion
Growth Rate	Poised to exhibit a CAGR of 6.6%
Historical Data	2020-2024
Forecast Period	2025–2032
Forecast Units	Value (USD Billion)
Report Coverage	Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends
Segments Covered	By Drug, Route of Administration, and Disease Stage
Geographies Covered	North America (U.S. and Canada), Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America), Europe (Italy, Spain, U.K., Germany, France, Russia, and Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, ASEAN, and Rest of Asia Pacific), Middle East (GCC Countries, Israel, and Rest of Middle East), and Africa (South Africa, North Africa, and Central Africa)
Growth Drivers	Increasing Prevalence of Cancer Cachexia in Advanced Cancer Patients Rising Investment in R&D for Novel Therapies like Ghrelin Receptor Agonists
Trends	Growing Adoption of Combination and Multimodal Therapies Emergence of Biomarker and Imaging-Based Diagnostics for Early Detection and Intervention
Opportunities	Increasing Focus on Developing Personalized Treatments Targeting Cachexia Potential for Breakthrough Therapies to Gain Market Share with the Development of Effective Medication
Restraints & Challenges	Lack of FDA-approved Therapies Limits Treatment Options High Cost of Clinical Trials and Drug Development

Market Dynamics

The global cancer cachexia market is witnessing steady growth, driven by the rising prevalence of advanced-stage cancers, increasing recognition of cachexia as a distinct metabolic syndrome, and growing adoption of multimodal management strategies. Cancer cachexia affects a significant proportion of patients with late-stage malignancies, and its management has become a critical component of comprehensive cancer care. Early screening for muscle wasting, appetite loss, and metabolic alterations is enabling timely intervention and improving patient quality of life.

Innovations in treatment approaches are reshaping the market landscape, with the development of novel pharmacological therapies such as anabolic agents, anti-inflammatory drugs, and appetite stimulants showing promising clinical outcomes. Ongoing research into cytokine inhibition, ghrelin receptor agonists, and metabolic modulators is further expanding therapeutic possibilities. Integration of pharmacotherapy with nutritional support, exercise programs, and palliative care is enhancing treatment effectiveness and survival outcomes.

Hospitals, oncology clinics, and palliative care centers remain the primary end users, supported by multidisciplinary treatment teams and advanced diagnostic infrastructure. Additionally, the growing focus on home-based cachexia management and oral drug formulations is improving treatment adherence and patient convenience.

Despite favorable growth drivers, the market faces challenges such as the lack of approved targeted therapies, limited awareness in developing regions, and difficulty in differentiating cachexia from other cancer-related conditions. High treatment costs and variability in patient response also pose limitations. Nevertheless, increasing clinical research investment, greater emphasis on supportive oncology care, and regulatory support for novel cachexia therapies are expected to sustain market momentum through 2032.

Market Trends

• Growing Adoption of Combination and Multimodal Therapies

There is an increasing shift toward combination and multimodal approaches in cancer cachexia management, integrating anabolic agents, anti-inflammatory drugs, nutritional support, and physical rehabilitation to target the multifactorial nature of the condition.

According to an article published by the National Cancer Institute in October 2024, Ponsegromab (a GDF-15 inhibitor) demonstrated significant weight gain and improved appetite in cancer patients during 2023 clinical studies when used in combination with supportive care measures.

• Emergence of Biomarker and Imaging-Based Diagnostics for Early Detection and Intervention

There is a growing emphasis on the development and integration of biomarker- and imaging-based diagnostic tools aimed at facilitating early detection and intervention in cancer cachexia. These advanced technologies enable clinicians to identify metabolic dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and skeletal muscle degradation at subclinical stages—well before severe weight loss and muscle wasting become apparent. Early identification allows for timely initiation of therapeutic and nutritional interventions, thereby improving treatment efficacy, enhancing patient quality of life, and potentially extending survival outcomes. This shift toward precision diagnostics represents a critical step in transforming cancer cachexia management from reactive to proactive care.

Market Opportunities

• Development of Cannabis-Derived Therapeutics

Cannabis-derived therapeutics are emerging as a potential treatment for cancer cachexia by stimulating appetite and promoting weight gain without significant psychoactive effects. Drugs like ART27.13 have shown promising results in clinical trials, helping patients maintain or increase body weight and improve overall quality of life, representing a novel pharmacological avenue in cachexia management.

In September 2025, Artelo Biosciences announced positive interim results from the Phase 2 CAReS study, evaluating ART27.13 as a once-daily oral treatment for cancer patients with cachexia. Patients who titrated to the highest dose of 1300 micrograms demonstrated a mean weight gain of 6.38% over 12 weeks, compared to a 5.42% weight loss in the placebo group. The study also observed improvements in lean body mass, activity levels, and quality of life, with no significant adverse effects reported.

• Advancements in Artificial Intelligence for Early Detection

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in imaging diagnostics is revolutionizing the early detection of cancer cachexia. AI-driven models analyzing CT scans can identify subtle changes in muscle mass and fat distribution, enabling clinicians to detect cachexia at its onset. This early identification facilitates timely interventions, potentially improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

According to a report published by Moffitt Cancer Center in April 2025, researchers developed an AI model that analyzes CT scans to quantify skeletal muscle mass. The model integrates this data with other clinical information to predict whether a patient currently has, or is at risk of developing, cancer cachexia, providing a scalable and objective solution for early detection.

Analyst View

• The global cancer cachexia market is positioned for steady growth over the forecast period, driven by a combination of epidemiological, clinical, and technological factors. Analysts note that the rising prevalence of advanced-stage cancers, coupled with increasing recognition of cachexia as a distinct metabolic syndrome, is generating strong demand for effective management strategies across oncology care pathways.
• From a therapeutic perspective, the market is undergoing significant evolution. Traditional pharmacotherapies, such as anabolic steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs, continue to dominate due to established efficacy in enhancing muscle mass, improving physical function, and mitigating fatigue. However, the emergence of novel treatment modalities—such as ghrelin receptor agonists, cytokine inhibitors, and cannabis-derived therapeutics—is expected to reshape clinical practice by offering more targeted, personalized, and outcome-driven approaches to cachexia management.
• Technological innovations, particularly the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and imaging-based diagnostics, are enhancing early detection and intervention. AI-driven models analyzing CT scans and other clinical data enable precise assessment of skeletal muscle loss and metabolic dysfunction, facilitating timely therapeutic decisions and potentially improving patient survival and quality of life. Analysts view these diagnostic advancements as pivotal in shifting cachexia care from reactive to proactive management.
• The market also presents opportunities in digital and home-based care solutions. Telehealth platforms, remote monitoring, and patient-centric care models are enabling personalized treatment regimens while improving adherence and reducing hospital dependency. Analysts anticipate that these innovations, combined with ongoing clinical research and regulatory support, will expand the reach of cachexia management programs globally.
• Challenges remain, including the limited number of FDA-approved therapies, high costs of drug development and clinical trials, variability in patient response, and awareness gaps in developing regions. Nevertheless, analysts are optimistic that sustained R&D investment, increasing adoption of multimodal treatment strategies, and technological integration will continue to drive consistent market expansion. Overall, the global cancer cachexia market is evolving as a dynamic segment, blending clinical innovation, precision diagnostics, and patient-centric solutions to address a critical unmet need in oncology care.

Key Developments

• In May 2025, Actimed Therapeutics, a U.K.-based clinical-stage speciality pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of cancer cachexia and other muscle wasting disorders, announced the commencement of a new development programme investigating the potential benefits of using S-pindolol benzoate (ACM-001.1) during and post-GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) therapy in the management of obesity and related metabolic conditions.

Competitive Landscape

• Helsinn Therapeutics
• Actimed Therapeutics
• Pfizer
• Aveo Oncology
• Artelo Biosciences
• Aphios Corporation

Cancer Cachexia Market Segmentation

• By Drug
• Anabolic Steroids
• Anti-inflammatory Drugs
• By Route of Administration
• Oral
• Parenteral
• By Disease Stage
• Early-stage Cachexia
• Late-stage Cachexia

Regional Insights

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Latin America
  • Mexico
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America
• Europe
  • Italy
  • Germany
  • U.K.
  • Spain
  • France
  • Russia
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
  • South Korea
  • India
  • Japan
  • China
  • Australia
  • ASEAN
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Middle East
  • GCC Countries
  • Israel
  • Rest of the Middle East
• Africa
  • South Africa
  • North Africa
  • Central Africa