Cancer Cachexia Market Report 2026

The cancer cachexia market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $2.6 billion in 2025 to $2.75 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing incidence of late-stage cancer diagnoses, broader clinical awareness of cachexia management, growing hospital pharmacy distribution, early adoption of anabolic agents, expansion of supportive oncology care.

The cancer cachexia market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $3.35 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for personalized cachexia treatments, rising clinical research into novel mechanisms, expansion of outpatient oncology services, growing use of digital patient monitoring tools, increasing focus on quality-of-life outcomes. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing use of combination drug regimens, rising focus on muscle preservation therapies, growing adoption of nutritional supplementation strategies, expansion of anti-inflammatory cachexia treatments, enhanced monitoring of cachexia progression.

The rising prevalence of cancer is expected to drive the growth of the cancer cachexia market in the coming years. Cancer is a condition in which abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the body, forming tumors and interfering with normal physiological processes. The increasing number of cancer cases is attributed to factors such as lifestyle changes, environmental influences, an aging population, genetic predisposition, improved diagnostic techniques allowing earlier detection, and greater awareness, leading more individuals to seek medical care. Advances in medical technology and a deeper understanding of cancer and its complications are contributing to more frequent diagnoses and reporting of cancer cachexia. Healthcare professionals are enhancing their ability to recognize cachexia symptoms, enabling earlier interventions and treatment initiation. For example, in July 2024, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, a government agency in Australia, reported that in 2023, approximately 165,000 Australians were newly diagnosed with cancer, which amounts to over 450 cases per day, with males accounting for about 55% of these diagnoses. Consequently, the growing prevalence of cancer is fueling the expansion of the cancer cachexia market.

Key companies in the cancer cachexia market are focusing on developing innovative therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, to provide targeted treatments for cancer cachexia, aiming to enhance body weight, muscle mass, and overall quality of life for affected patients. Monoclonal antibodies for cachexia work by targeting and inhibiting factors responsible for muscle and weight loss. For instance, in September 2024, Pfizer Inc., a US-based pharmaceutical company, announced positive outcomes from its Phase 2 study of Ponsegromab, a monoclonal antibody targeting GDF-15 in patients with cancer cachexia. The study showed a significant increase in body weight and improvements in muscle mass, appetite, and physical activity, with the 400 mg dose producing the strongest results. Based on these promising findings, Pfizer plans to initiate registration-enabling studies in 2025 to further explore Ponsegromab’s potential as a treatment for cancer cachexia.

In January 2023, LG Chem Ltd., a chemical company based in South Korea, acquired AVEO Oncology for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, LG Chem intends to diversify its product portfolio and strengthen its capabilities in drug development, commercialization, and acquisitions, ultimately speeding up its progress toward delivering advanced cancer treatments. AVEO Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company based in the US that offers a potential therapy for cancer cachexia.

Major companies operating in the cancer cachexia market are Pfizer Inc., Merck & Co. Inc., AbbVie Inc., Bayer AG, Sanofi SA, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, AstraZeneca plc, Novartis International AG, Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Eli Lilly and Company, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Astellas Pharma Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Perrigo Company plc, Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd., Hikma Pharmaceuticals plc, Endo International plc, Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Limited, Lupin Limited, Mallinckrodt plc, Akorn Inc., Aeterna Zentaris, XBiotech Inc.

North America was the largest region in the cancer cachexia market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the cancer cachexia market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the cancer cachexia market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Tariffs are influencing the cancer cachexia market by increasing costs of imported pharmaceutical compounds, specialty drugs, and manufacturing inputs required for progestogens, corticosteroids, and combination therapies. Healthcare systems in North America and Europe are most affected due to reliance on imported formulations, while Asia-Pacific faces higher costs for raw materials and drug intermediates. These tariffs are contributing to higher therapy costs and procurement challenges. At the same time, they are encouraging regional drug manufacturing, local formulation development, and strengthened domestic pharmaceutical supply chains.

The cancer cachexia market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides cancer cachexia market statistics, including cancer cachexia industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a cancer cachexia market share, detailed cancer cachexia market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the cancer cachexia industry. This cancer cachexia market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

Cancer cachexia is a complex metabolic syndrome marked by progressive weight loss, muscle wasting, weakness, fatigue, and decreased appetite in individuals with cancer. It is a multifactorial condition caused by a combination of factors, including inflammation, metabolic disturbances, and the presence of tumors. Cancer cachexia can greatly affect a patient's quality of life, limiting their ability to undergo cancer treatments and reducing overall survival.

The primary therapeutics for cancer cachexia include progestogens, corticosteroids, combination therapies, and other treatments. Progestogens are a class of medications commonly used in managing cancer cachexia. They function by mimicking the effects of natural progesterone hormones in the body, potentially aiding in increasing appetite and muscle mass in patients. Their mechanisms of action include appetite stimulation, weight loss stabilization, and other effects, and they are available through hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacy stores, and online platforms.

The cancer cachexia market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as nutritional counseling, physical therapy, and exercise training. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The cancer cachexia market also includes sales of anabolic steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and oral nutritional supplements. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is, the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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