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First UK patients begin trial of drug designed to help people stay strong enough for pancreatic-cancer treatment

The Royal Free London has treated the first two UK participants in the RIVER study, testing whether Ponsegromab can reduce severe weight and muscle loss during chemotherapy.

By The TEA Editorial Desk · 28 August 2026

The Royal Free London clinical trial team involved in the pancreatic cancer RIVER study Image: Royal Free London NHS Foundation TrustOriginal source

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The first two UK participants in an international pancreatic-cancer drug trial have received at the Royal Free London.

The RIVER is testing different doses of Ponsegromab, a drug designed to suppress a hormone linked to cancer cachexia, the severe loss of appetite, weight and muscle that can leave people too frail to continue chemotherapy.

The drug does not treat the cancer itself. want to establish whether reducing cachexia can help patients remain well enough to continue cancer treatment for longer. Participants receive either one of two doses or a placebo every four weeks for up to 48 weeks.

This is an early-stage trial, so its effectiveness is not yet known. The positive milestone is that UK recruitment and treatment are now under way, giving researchers real patient data on an often overlooked complication that can have a major effect on treatment options.