Peptide drug company Endevica Bio on Wednesday reported an agreement with Wuxi AppTec to begin toxicology studies of TCMCB07 for cancer cachexia to support an Investigational New Drug application (IND) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that will allow it to commence clinical trials.

Cachexia is a serious clinical consequence, also known as wasting syndrome, is estimated to be prevalent in approximately 50-80% of those with advanced malignant cancer and it is estimated to be the cause of death for up to 40% of cancer patients, added the company.

Discovered by the company's founder and chief scientific officer Dr Kenneth Gruber, TCMCB07 reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in the brain and is designed to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier. It is a first-in-class melanocortin ¾ antagonist peptide designed to help people with cancer cachexia live longer by enabling greater tolerability of cancer treatment and improved quality of life.

The company stated the results from these toxicology studies are expected to be announced by December 2021 and expects to file its IND by the first quarter of 2022.