Introduction to the launch time of Anamorelin in China

As of now (October 2025)Anamorelin (Anamorelin) has not yet been approved for marketing by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in mainland China. Although it has been used for the treatment of cancer cachexia in Japan, parts of Europe and Canada, it is still in the introduction and registration evaluation stage in China and has not yet launched a formal marketing application process. If domestic patients need to use the drug, they can mainly purchase it through overseas medical channels or Japanese pharmacies.

The reason why Anamorelin has not yet been launched in the country is mainly related to its specific indications and market positioning. Cancer cachexia, as a complex metabolic syndrome, currently has an imperfect clinical management system in China and lacks unified diagnostic and treatment standards. At the same time, relevant drug clinical trials require long-term tracking of weight, inflammation and nutritional indicators, and the research cycle is long, resulting in a relatively slow introduction process.

Despite this, anamorelin has received great attention in the field of oncology nutrition and palliative care in China. Many tertiary hospitals are already studying its potential feasibility as a clinical observation drug or an imported drug from overseas. As the survival time of cancer patients prolongs, the demand for cachexia treatment is growing rapidly. It is expected that this drug will enter the Chinese market through cross-border cooperation or localized clinical trials in the future.

In overseas markets, Anamorelin was first launched in Japan in 2021. Ono Pharmaceutical is responsible for production and sales. In the same year, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare included it in the list of cancer supportive treatment drugs to improve weight loss and loss of appetite caused by cachexia. Its marketing application under the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is also continuing to advance, and some countries have passed special approval to allow patients to use it.

In summary, anamorelin, as an anti-cachexia drug with a unique mechanism, is gradually becoming an important part of international adjuvant tumor treatment.

Reference materials:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4677053/