GC Wellbeing said Thursday its new cancer cachexia pipeline, GCWB204, has shown efficacy in suppressing muscle reduction. 

A joint research team, led by Professor Woo Dong-Cheol from Seoul Asan Hospital and GC Wellbeing, conducted the research. It analyzed GCWB204’s effects by estimating main biomarkers from animal models with muscle reduction from 5-Fluorouracil. 

The researchers said the study is significant as the drug not only recovers weight, muscle and fat loss but also increases their function. 

Cancer cachexia is characterized by systemic inflammation, negative protein and energy balance, and involuntary loss of body mass, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The market for cancer cachexia treatments is estimated to grow to $2.9 billion in 2026.

“We could confirm the effects of GCWB204 through the study. We now know that the drug has the potential to become the treatment for various chronic diseases,” Professor Woo said. 

GC Wellbeing CEO Kim Sang-hyun also said, “We expect GCWB204 to improve weight loss caused by anticancer treatment and also body functions so that it will increase patients’ quality of life.”

GC Wellbeing finished two clinical trials of its cancer cachexia treatment in Europe for digestive cancers and non-small cell lung cancer. The company aims to secure the results in the first half of this year. Currently, it is partnering up with global pharmaceutical firms in hopes of transferring the technology.

The research results were published in Metabolomics, an international journal.