Update on emerging drugs for sarcopenia – age-related muscle wasting

Abstract

Sarcopenia – the progressive loss of muscle mass with advancing age is characterised by a deterioration of muscle quantity and quality leading to a gradual slowing of movement and a decline in strength and power. Sarcopenia is a highly significant public health problem. Frail elders often require assistance for accomplishing even basic tasks of independent living, and they are also at increased risk of serious injury from sudden falls and subsequent fractures. Since these age-related changes are largely attributed to the complex interaction of factors affecting neuromuscular transmission, muscle architecture, fibre composition, excitation-contraction coupling, and metabolism, the mechanisms responsible for these deleterious changes present numerous therapeutic targets for novel drug discovery. Objective: This review provides an update on some of the emerging drugs for sarcopenia that have been in development during 2005 – 2008. Methods: This is a review of the current status of emerging therapies and novel approaches for sarcopenia. Results: Considerable research and development in academic and research institutions and in large and small pharma is being directed to sarcopenia and related health issues; specifically the development and evaluation of novel therapeutic strategies to attenuate, prevent, or ultimately reverse age-related muscle wasting and weakness. Conclusions: Few, if any, drugs have been developed for sarcopenia specifically, but there are many existing and emerging drugs that have potential application for tackling age-related muscle wasting, particularly drugs for neurodegenerative diseases.