What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 187 patients with pancreatic cancer. The study was sponsored by Pfizer and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was initial testing (phase 2). Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
Patients on the highest dose gained nearly 3 kilograms more than those on placebo.
The New England journal of medicine · 2024 · NCT05546476
These findings — that people on the highest dose gained about 6 pounds more than placebo — were published in the The New England journal of medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 187 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with pancreatic cancer, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
This was an early-stage study and ponsegromab is not yet FDA-approved for cancer-related weight loss. The results are promising and may lead to future approval. If you're losing weight because of cancer, talk to your doctor about nutrition support options and whether there are open trials testing this treatment.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open pancreatic cancer trials
Mesothelin and Claudin 18.2 Dual-Target CAR-T Therapy in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Autologous T-cells engineered to express CARs targeting Mesothelin and Claudin18.2, for Unresectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, PDAC), administered as two separate sequential infusions following lymphodepleting chemotherapy
A First-in-Human Study of FID-022 in Solid Tumor Patients
This observational study aims to (1) validate a multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) model for early detection of cancer-associated cachexia in pancreatic cancer patients and (2) assess the feasibility and acceptability of diet and exercise interventions for cachexia management. The study will use retrospective data from the Florida Pancreas Collaborative and prospective data from newly diagnosed patients at Moffitt Cancer Center.