80% of late-stage cancer patients will suffer from cachexia.
Cancer cachexia is an immune disorder that affects 80% of late-stage cancer patients and causes the death of 30% of cancer patients annually. Despite this massive unserved population, there is no FDA-approved treatment for cachexia.
“A New Life-Saving Approach to Cancer Treatment”
Akexis founder, Dr. Lingbing Zhang @ TED x Cape May (October 2019)
Our Mission
Our mission is to develop the first therapy that addresses the root cause of cancer cachexia, designed to address immune system dysfunction and empower patients with advanced cancer to endure anti-tumors treatments, achieve better survival outcomes, and experience an improved quality of life.
Our Vision
At Akexis, our vision is to lead the fight against cancer cachexia by developing groundbreaking therapies that not only address the underlying causes of this debilitating condition but also transform the standard of care for late-stage cancer patients. We envision a future where advanced cancer is no longer defined by limited treatment options or devastating side effects, but by hope, resilience, and survivability. Through our dedication to innovation, we aim to bring lasting relief to millions, empowering patients to survive and endure anti-tumor treatments, achieve better clinical outcomes, and ultimately, making advanced cancer survivable and curable.
Our Values
Patient Empowerment
At Akexis, we believe in putting patients at the center of everything we do. Our goal is to empower patients by providing therapies that protect life, restore strength, resilience, and hope, enabling them to take charge of their treatment journey.
Innovation with Purpose
We are committed to driving innovation that has a meaningful impact on patients' lives. Our focus is on developing therapies that address critical unmet medical needs, with the sole purpose of transforming cancer care and improving survival outcomes.
Ethical Excellence
We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring that every decision, from research to commercialization, is made with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to improving patient well-being.
Community Focus
Akexis is dedicated to fostering strong relationships with the healthcare community—working alongside researchers, clinicians, and caregivers—to create therapies that have a real impact on patients’ lives.
Courage in Progress
We embrace boldness and perseverance as we navigate the challenges of developing groundbreaking treatments. At Akexis, we have the courage to tackle tough problems head-on, driven by a relentless commitment to improving patient outcomes.
What is Cachexia
Steve Jobs in the final months of his battle with pancreatic cancer, visibly affected by cachexia.
What is cachexia?
Cachexia is an immune disorder that affects metabolism. It causes the progressive, involuntary and irreversible loss of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and results in systemic multi-organ failure and early mortality.
The condition is defined by loss of ≥5% of body weight over preceding 6 months and accompanied by symptoms including fatigue and reduced strength.
How many patients develop cancer cachexia?
According to the NIH, cachexia is observed in 50% of all cancer patients, and it is the direct cause of 30% of all cancer deaths, often due to heart or respiratory failure related to muscle loss.
What causes cachexia?
In the past, cachexia has been considered a metabolic condition resulting in malnutrition. Instead, we at Akexis believe that cachexia is an immune disorder that requires immunomodulation. Our new and innovative therapeutic solution AKX001 uses small molecule technology to treat the underlying causes of cachexia, not just its symptoms.