Pfizer 's experimental drug for a common, life-threatening condition that causes cancer patients to lose their appetite and weight showed positive results in a midstage trial, the drugmaker said Saturday. Patients with the condition, called cancer cachexia, who took Pfizer's treatment saw improvements in body weight, muscle mass, quality of life and physical function, according to the drugmaker. The condition affects about 9 million people worldwide, and 80% of cancer patients suffering from it are expected to die within one year of diagnosis, according to the company. Cancer cachexia is currently defined as a loss of 5% or more body weight over the past six months in cancer patients, along with symptoms such as fatigue, according to the National Cancer Institute. Allerton said a work group of experts defines a weight gain of greater than 5% as a "clinically meaningful difference in cancer patients with cachexia."

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Persons: cachexia, Charlotte Allerton, Pfizer's, Allerton Organizations: Pfizer, National Cancer Institute, CNBC, European Society for Medical Oncology, The New England, of Medicine Locations: U.S, cachexia, Barcelona, Spain, The, Allerton