title: Are we closer to having drugs to treat muscle wasting disease?
abstract: The two most common muscle wasting diseases in adults are sarcopenia and cachexia. Despite differences in their pathophysiology, it is believed that both conditions are likely to respond to drugs that increase muscle mass and muscle strength. The current gold standard in this regard is exercise training. This article provides an overview of candidate drugs to treat muscle wasting disease that are available or in development. Drugs highlighted here include ghrelin agonists, selective androgen receptor molecules, megestrol acetate, activin receptor antagonists, espindolol, and fast skeletal muscle troponin inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Geriatric Medicine and Endocrinology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 S. Grand Blvd., M238, St. Louis, MO, 63104, USA, morley@slu.edu.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Morley
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: von Haehling
authors.forename: Stefan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Anker