Creating new treatments for muscle loss in cancer patients
Official title: Development of novel therapeutics for cancer cachexia
Funded at Emmyon, INC. · NIH-10804742 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new medication to help cancer patients who are losing muscle strength and feeling weak, with the hope of improving their overall health and quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emmyon, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $997,245 |
| NIH project number | 5R44CA277853-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10804742 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients with advanced cancer who are experiencing significant muscle loss due to cancer cachexia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with early-stage cancer or those not experiencing muscle atrophy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new medications to combat cancer cachexia, a condition that causes severe muscle loss in cancer patients. It aims to address the significant unmet need for effective therapies to improve physical function and quality of life for those affected. The researchers have identified a natural compound that reduces muscle atrophy in animal models and are now working on a more potent derivative to enhance its effectiveness. By testing this new drug, they hope to provide a viable treatment option for patients suffering from this debilitating condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective treatments that improve muscle mass and overall quality of life for cancer patients experiencing cachexia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using natural compounds to address muscle atrophy, but this specific approach with the new derivative is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Emmyon, INC.
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ebert, Scott Matthew — Emmyon, INC.
- Study coordinator: Ebert, Scott Matthew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Mitochondrial pores and muscle loss in cancer cachexia
A small US-based study will explore how changes in mitochondria contribute to muscle wasting in people with cancer cachexia and how this may be slowed.
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CANCAN: A Virtual Institute to Cure Cancer Cachexia
A broad, collaborative NIH initiative aims to uncover why cancer patients lose weight and muscle and to develop new ways to treat this serious condition.
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Spatial metabolism mapping in cancer cachexia tissues
Aims to map where and how metabolism changes in tissues affected by cancer cachexia using advanced imaging technology.
-
Nuclear receptors that may stop muscle wasting in cancer
This grant explores whether activating specific muscle-regulating receptors can prevent muscle loss in cancer patients.
-
Stopping an enzyme called Transglutaminase 2 to prevent cancer-related muscle loss
This work explores whether blocking an enzyme called Transglutaminase 2 can stop or reverse the severe muscle wasting that often affects people with pancreatic cancer.
-
How the liver's ketone production affects muscle loss and recovery in pancreatic cancer
This project looks at whether helping the liver make ketones can prevent muscle wasting and aid recovery for people with pancreatic cancer.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.