The goal of this clinical trial was to compare the efficacy and safety of anamorelin HCl (the investigational drug) to that of placebo (tablet with no drug) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and cachexia (cancer-related weight loss). The main question it aimed to answer was as follows: Do patients who receive anamorelin HCl gain more body weight and show more improvement in anorexia symptoms than those who receive placebo.

Approximately 316 patients were to be enrolled in the study. Of these patients, an equal number were to be assigned to each treatment group (anamorelin HCl or placebo). Participants were to take their assigned study drug by mouth once daily for a total of 24 weeks. During this treatment period, the patients were to visit the clinical study site every 3 weeks for health and other study-related assessments. Two weeks after the last treatment, patients were to receive a follow-up phone call.

The study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of anamorelin HCl. It was planned that approximately 316 patients with advanced NSCLC with cachexia were to be randomized 1:1 to anamorelin HCl 100 mg or placebo (158 patients per treatment group). The study treatment was to be taken orally once daily for a total of 24 weeks. Patients were instructed to take the study drug at least 1 hour before their first meal of the day.

Central randomization was stratified by line of systemic anti-cancer treatment (first line vs second line vs third line or higher), by type of anti-cancer therapy (immunotherapy vs non-immunotherapy), and by baseline score of the 5-item Anorexia Symptom Subscale (5-IASS) (≤10 vs >10).

Patients who had never received anti-cancer treatment prior to entering the study but who met all eligibility criteria were eligible to enter the study and were assigned to receive first line treatment in the Interactive Web Response System (IWRS).

Patients were to visit the site every 3 weeks for the study Treatment Period of 24 weeks. A follow-up telephone visit was to be scheduled at Week 26. Thus, patients were enrolled in the study for a maximum duration of 27 weeks (including a 1-week Screening Period, a 24-week Treatment Period, and a 2-week Follow-up Period). Each patient was scheduled to have a total of 10 planned visits plus 1 telephone contact for the Follow-up Visit.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Signed written informed consent

2. Female or male ≥18 years of age

3. Documented histologic or cytologic diagnosis of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Stage III or IV NSCLC. Stage III patient must have unresectable disease

4. Body mass index < 20 kg/m2 with involuntary weight loss of >2% within 6 months prior to screening

5. Ongoing problems with appetite/eating associated with the underlying cancer, as determined by having score of ≤ 17 points on the 5-item Anorexia Symptom Scale and ≤ 37 points on the 12-item FAACT A/CS

6. Patient receiving or not receiving systemic anti-cancer treatment at the time of screening are eligible to participate. Systemic anti-cancer treatment includes first, second, third treatment line with chemotherapy/radiation therapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy.

   Patient not receiving systemic anti-cancer treatment is eligible if:

   1. Not planning to receive anti-cancer treatment and/or at least 14 days must be elapsed from the completion of prior treatment at the day of screening, in case underwent previous cycle OR
   2. Planning to receive anti-cancer treatment within 14 days from randomization and/or at least 14 days must be elapsed from the completion of prior treatment at the day of screening, in case underwent previous cycle OR
   3. Patient on palliative care treatment

7. ECOG performance status 0,1 or 2 at screening

8. AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤ 3 x ULN or if hepatic metastases are present ≤ 5 x ULN

9. Adequate renal function, defined as creatinine ≤2 ULN, or calculated creatinine clearance >30 ml/minute

10. Female patient shall be: a) of non-childbearing potential or b) of childbearing potential using reliable contraceptive measures and having a negative urine pregnancy test within 24 hours prior to first dose of investigational product.

    Notes:

    1. Female patient of non-childbearing potential are defined as being in post-menopausal state since at least 1 year; or having documented surgical sterilization or hysterectomy at least 3 months before study participation.
    2. Reliable contraceptive measures include implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices, vasectomized partner or complete (long term) sexual abstinence.

11. The patient must be willing and able to comply with the protocol tests and procedures.

All inclusion criteria were to be checked at screening visit (Visit 1). Inclusion criterion #10 was to be re-checked and verified at Day 1 (Visit 2).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient with other forms of lung cancer (e.g., small cell, neuroendocrine tumors)

2. Woman who is pregnant or breast-feeding

3. Reversible causes of reduced food intake, as determined by the Investigator. These causes may include but are not limited to:

   1. NCI CTCAE Grade 3 or 4 oral mucositis,
   2. NCI CTCAE Grade 3 or 4 GI disorders [nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation],
   3. mechanical obstructions making patient unable to eat, or
   4. severe depression

4. Patient undergoing major surgery (central venous access placement and tumor biopsies are not considered major surgery) within 4 weeks prior to randomization. Patient must be well recovered from acute effects of surgery prior to screening. Patient should not have plans to undergo major surgical procedures during the treatment period.

5. Patient currently taking androgenic compounds including but not limited to testosterone, testosterone-like agents, oxandrolone; megestrol acetate; corticosteroids; olanzapine, mirtazapine (however, long-term use of mirtazapine for depression for at least four weeks prior to screening is allowed); dronabinol; marijuana (cannabis); or any other prescription medication or off-label products intended to increase appetite or treat unintentional weight loss

6. Patient with pleural effusion requiring thoracentesis, pericardial effusion requiring drainage, edema or evidence of ascites

7. Patient with uncontrolled or significant cardiovascular disease, including:

   1. History of myocardial infarction within the past 3 months
   2. A-V block of second or third degree (may be eligible if currently have a pacemaker)
   3. Unstable angina
   4. Congestive heart failure within the past 3 months, if defined as NYHA class III-IV
   5. Any history of clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias (such as ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, or torsade de pointes)
   6. Uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure >150 mm Hg systolic and >95 mm Hg diastolic)
   7. Heart rate < 50 beats per minute on pre-entry electrocardiogram and patient is symptomatic

8. Patient on drugs that may prolong the PR or QRS interval durations, such as any of the antiarrhythmic medications Class I (Fast sodium (Na) channel blockers)

9. Patient unable to readily swallow oral tablets

10. Patient with severe gastrointestinal disease (including esophagitis, gastritis, malabsorption)

11. Patient with history of gastrectomy

12. Patient with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or unmonitored diabetes mellitus

13. Patient with cachexia caused by other reasons, as determined by the investigator such as:

    1. Severe COPD requiring use of home O2,
    2. New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV heart failure
    3. AIDS
    4. Uncontrolled thyroid disease

14. Patient receiving strong CYP3A4 inhibitors within 14 days of randomization

15. Patient currently receiving tube feedings or parenteral nutrition (either total or partial).

16. Current excessive alcohol or illicit drug use

17. Any condition, including the presence of laboratory abnormalities, which in the Investigator's opinion, places the subject at unacceptable risk if he/she were to participate in the study or confounds the ability to interpret data from the study

18. Enrollment in a previous study with anamorelin HCl

19. Patient actively receiving a concurrent investigational agent, or having received an investigational agent within 28 days of Day 1

All exclusion criteria were to be checked at screening visit (Visit 1). Exclusion Criteria #3, 5, 6, 7g, and 9 were to be re-checked and verified before study drug administration (Visit 2).

This was a double-blind study. The blinding of the study drugs was guaranteed by the use of anamorelin HCl film-coated tablets and matching placebo tablets. Patients were randomized using the Interactive Web Response System (IWRS). Any unblinding of the study treatment was performed using the IWRS.