Helsinn, the Swiss pharmaceutical Group focused on building quality cancer care, announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) accepted for review, the marketing authorisation application (MAA) for anamorelin HCI, a novel, orally active selective ghrelin receptor agonist under development for the treatment of anorexia, cachexia, or unintended weight loss in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Riccardo Braglia, chief executive officer of Helsinn Group commented, "With this EMA submission, we are one step closer to bringing this new and potentially effective treatment to market, meaning that the quality of life for patients with non-small cell lung cancer who suffer from anorexia, cachexia, could soon improve. Anamorelin is part of our pipeline of products dedicated to cancer supportive care, all of which address areas of significant unmet medical need."

Anamorelin HCI is a novel, orally active ghrelin receptor agonist under development for the treatment of anorexia, cachexia, or unintended weight loss in NSCLC patients.

Ghrelin is an endogenous peptide primarily secreted by the stomach. Upon binding to its receptor, ghrelin stimulates multiple pathways in the positive regulation of body weight, lean body mass, appetite and metabolism. Anamorelin is an investigational agent that has not yet been approved by any regulatory authority.