Biopharmaceutical company GTx Inc declared that experimentation on Ostraine, a drug to treat cancer induced muscle loss has been successful in the mid stage trial. The company is developing the drug in collaboration with Merck & Co Inc. The aim of the drug is to increase lean body mass and improve muscle function.

Trials have been conducted on 159 cancer patients for 16 weeks. The patients were administered a dummy drug or 1mg or 3 mg capsule of Ostarine daily.

The patients on Ostarine showed a marked improvement in lean body mass. The patients also showed improved speed in a stair step test.

Mitchell S. Steiner, the company’s CEO said that positive results in the second round of trials have given a boost to GTx..

The company had announced in December 2006, that elderly patients who took a 3 milligram dose of the drug gained an average of nearly 3 pounds of muscle after three months. This was achieved without a formal diet or exercise regimen.