A marijuana-based medication that harnesses the well-known “munchies” effect could soon help cancer patients suffering from severe weight loss, researchers have revealed.
Up to 80% of patients with advanced cancer experience cachexia, a debilitating condition that causes extreme muscle and weight loss, leaving them weak and unable to maintain normal activity levels. Existing appetite stimulants often fail to work effectively, prompting scientists to look for new solutions.
UK biotech firm Artelo Biosciences has developed an experimental drug that mimics the appetite-boosting effects of cannabis without producing a psychoactive high. The tablet targets cannabinoid receptors in the body to stimulate hunger and enhance taste perception, while avoiding significant penetration of the brain.
According to early clinical trial results reported by The Express, the medication has delivered “better than expected” outcomes. Over a 12-week trial period, cancer patients taking the drug gained an average of 6.4% of their body weight, while those on a placebo lost 5.4%.
Researchers also tracked participants’ movement using wearable devices. Those receiving the experimental treatment became more active, whereas patients taking the placebo experienced a further decline in activity. Interestingly, participants did not report feeling noticeably hungrier, suggesting the drug may influence how efficiently their bodies use food rather than simply increasing appetite.
Lead researcher Professor Barry Laird, a palliative care specialist at the University of Oslo, shared the findings at a cachexia conference in Turin last month. “We had one patient who was able to go and play a round of golf again,” Laird said. “Another managed a weekend holiday.”
He explained that restoring the ability to eat and enjoy food has a profound emotional impact. “There’s a huge degree of stress associated with cancer weight loss because eating is a core part of human existence,” Laird noted. “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 their carers and family as well.”
He added, “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 small-scale study involved 25 participants diagnosed with various advanced cancers.
Every patient who received the drug either stopped losing weight or began gaining it back. Following these promising results, Artelo Biosciences plans to advance the treatment to larger phase-three clinical trials, which could determine whether the marijuana-derived medication becomes a new option for managing cancer-related weight loss.