A cannabis-based drug that harnesses “the munchies” could help cancer patients increase their body weight, according to scientists. Around 80% of advanced cancer patients suffer from a debilitating wasting syndrome, cachexia, which leads to loss of muscle mass. Treatments include appetite stimulants but these do not work for all patients.
British biotech company Artelo Biosciences has created an experimental drug that harnesses a phenomenon known as the munchies, where the drug improves appetite and enhances flavour. It uses a molecule that that acts on the cannabinoid receptors but does not easily cross into the brain, so users do not get high.
The drug, which has been developed in tablet form showed “better than expected” results in trials.
It helped advanced cancer patients gain an average of 6.4% of their body weight over a 12-week period, compared with a 5.4% loss for those taking the placebo, the company said.
Patients’ activity was monitored with wearable tracking devices. Those taking the drug increased their activity and those taking the placebo moved less. Users reported that they did not notice feeling hungry.
Study leader Professor Barry Laird, an expert in palliative care at the University of Oslo in Canada, said: “We had one patient who was able to go and play a round of golf again. Another managed a weekend holiday.”
Laird presented the results at a cachexia conference in Turin last month.
He added: “There’s a huge degree of stress associated with cancer weight loss because eating is a core part of human existence, and when a person can’t sit at the dinner table and interact with family over food, that causes distress, not only for the patient, but for the carers and their family as well.
“So patients just being able to go back to the dinner table again and enjoy a meal with their loved ones is extremely impactful. It’s a quality of life issue.”
The 25 patients in the trial had a range of advanced cancers. All those given the drug either stopped losing weight or gained some.
The company now wants to take the drug to larger phase three trials. Andy Yates, Artelo’s chief scientific officer, said the drug could be available as early as 2028 if those trials are successful.
He added: “We are confident we will be able to show that this drug can save treatment costs as well as helping improve the quality of life of patients, their families and their carers.”