World Cancer Day 2023: exploring the role of medical nutrition in cancer care

• Due to the impact of cancer as well as its treatment, patients with the disease face an elevated risk for malnutrition that affects an estimated 20-80% of them globally.^1,2,3,4,5,6
• This World Cancer Day, 4 February, we dive into the science-backed benefits of complementing disease-modifying oncology therapies with targeted medical nutrition solutions to improve treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. 
• Explore the latest insights on the effects of disease-related malnutrition and how tailored medical nutrition solutions present new opportunities for pharmaceutical companies to better support patients with more comprehensive therapeutic offerings

Reflecting on World Cancer Day 2023

As the second-leading cause of death globally, cancer takes the lives of 10 million people every year.⁷ From leukemia to carcinomas, there are different types of cancers and a whole host of lifestyle-related and non-modifiable risk factors that impact its incidence. However, suitable strategies for cancer prevention, early detection and treatment could help save millions of lives. This World Cancer Day, we will explore the opportunity to better support patients with cancer by integrating medical nutrition with oncology therapies.

The impact of cancer-related malnutrition

Patients with cancer face an elevated risk for malnutrition due to the impact of the disease as well as its treatment. In fact, worldwide studies show that between 20-80% of individuals with the condition suffer from malnutrition, with incidence rates varying according to factors that range from age to cancer stage and disease-modifying therapy methods.^1,2,3,4,5,6 Disease-related malnutrition is typically characterized by reduced dietary intake, malabsorption of nutrients, increased nutrient losses or altered metabolic demands that can trigger tissue breakdown, significant weight loss, changes in body composition and declining physical and mental function.⁸

10-20% of deaths in patients with cancer are associated with malnutrition.^1,9,10 By potentially increasing the toxicity of pharmaceutical drugs and accelerating drug catabolism, malnutrition can have a negative impact on the efficacy of oncology treatment and increase the risk of adverse symptoms.^11,12 Even though disease-related malnutrition significantly impacts patient health and wellbeing, clinical outcomes, cost of care and quality of life,^13,14,15 only around 30-60% of patients with cancer receive the nutritional support they need.^2,16 All this suggests that optimal nutrition can play a pivotal role in supporting patients with cancer at various disease and treatment phases – and should be implemented as a key element of cancer care.

Improving cancer prognosis with medical nutrition

Encompassing a range of specialized nutritional therapy products from oral supplements to enteral and parenteral (intravenous) feeding modalities, medical nutrition can help patients to address disease-related nutritional deficiencies. This is especially crucial when they’re unable to meet their dietary requirements via normal food intake. Growing evidence suggests that tailored medical nutrition combined with drug therapies, such as chemotherapy and surgery, could be a game-changer for patients with cancer.¹⁸

Integrating medical nutrition into multimodal therapeutic care plans has numerous advantages. It can reverse the negative effects of malnutrition, promote healthy immune system function, maximize the efficacy of drug therapies, and improve patient outcomes, quality of life and prognosis – thereby reducing healthcare costs and the rate of hospital readmissions. One randomized controlled trial discovered that early nutritional intervention improved the quality of life of patients with various types of cancer and significantly increased the survival rates of patients when combined with anticancer treatment.¹⁹ Another meta-analysis demonstrated that targeted nutrition increased the body weight of patients receiving chemoradiotherapy.²⁰

Exploring opportunities in medical nutrition

To effectively support patient health and support the efficacy of disease modifying therapies, pharmaceutical companies can consider combining their pharmacological drug offerings with specialized nutritional products designed to combat disease-related malnutrition.

Download our whitepaper to learn more about the advantages of pairing medical nutrition solutions with disease-modifying therapies and the wide range of opportunities to develop these complementary nutritional solutions to improve the lives of patients with cancer.

dsm-firmenich’s strategic partner, Brains Bioceutical – a pioneer in the cannabinoid space and a global leader in the manufacture of natural-origin cannabinoid API solutions – has recently announced the opening of a state-of-the-art 21,000 sq/ft cannabinoid manufacturing facility in Sandwich, Kent, UK. Together with BSPG Laboratories – a wholly owned subsidiary of Brains Bioceutical – this new site is set to become the global center for cannabinoid research, testing and commercial production commercial production of natural EU GMP APIs.

Senior Director of Pharma and Medical Nutrition at dsm-firmenich, Kelsey Achenbach, spoke on the facility opening, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Brains Bioceutical to enhance our access to cannabinoid research and production capabilities and ultimately continue to expand our API portfolio. Research in cannabinoids is increasing rapidly and their potential in therapeutic areas, such as CNS diseases and mental health treatment, is very exciting. As a purpose-led partner in early-stage drug development, dsm-firmenich has the core competencies – and now extended state-of-the-art research facilities – to support pharmaceutical companies in entering the cannabinoid market with science-backed pharmaceuticals.”

The new facility expansion provides the crucial infrastructure required for Brains Bioceutical and BSPG Laboratories to become one of the world’s leading cannabinoid API manufacturers. BSPG is one of very few companies   supported by the appropriate GMP certification for both human and veterinary use and is registered with the MHRA, the UK authorities, as an API manufacturer for cannabinoids. The team working at the center will focus on furthering preclinical research and clinical trials to provide greater evidence to support the efficacy and safety of cannabinoids on a global scale. 

In partnership with Brains Bioceutical, dsm-firmenich can provide customers with access to the purest THC-free cannabidiol (CBD) API available on the market today. At dsm-firmenich, we continue to advance research into various pioneering technologies to – for example – create a comprehensive formulation toolkit that effectively improves CBD bioavailability, while addressing different market needs and supporting better patient outcomes. In partnership with Brains Bioceutical, we are also exploring the therapeutic potential of a number of other cannabinoid APIs in addition to CBD, including some rare cannabinoid molecules.