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Anamorelin (Adlumiz)
Overview
Anamorelin is an orally active selective ghrelin receptor agonist designed to stimulate appetite and promote anabolic processes by mimicking endogenous ghrelin at the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a). The small-molecule peptidomimetic increases growth hormone and IGF-1 secretion while enhancing food intake and lean body mass, targeting the muscle wasting and cachexia associated with chronic illness.
Mechanism of Action
Its oral bioavailability and receptor selectivity differentiate it from earlier injectable ghrelin analogues.
Research Summary & Key Findings
Phase 3 trials (ROMANA 1 and 2) in patients with cancer cachexia, published in Journal of Clinical Oncology (2016), demonstrated significant increases in lean body mass but did not meet co-primary endpoints for handgrip strength, leading to a complete response letter from the FDA in 2017. Anamorelin received conditional approval in Japan in 2021 under the trade name Adlumiz for cancer cachexia, representing the first ghrelin receptor agonist approved for human use in any jurisdiction.
Clinical Status
Anamorelin (Adlumiz) is in the investigational stage. While preclinical and early-phase data exist, it has not received regulatory approval for clinical use in the United States.
Administration Routes
References
Primary literature
- PubMed: "Anamorelin"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "Anamorelin"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "Anamorelin"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
Study-level citations for this compound are being verified against the primary sources before publication. The database queries above return the current indexed literature in the meantime.
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View detailsNo lawful pathway today
Anamorelin (Adlumiz) is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so there is nothing for us to sell you here and no consultation to book. That can change: eight peptides moved back to a lawful pathway in February 2026.
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