Introduction:
Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is a global health problem that contributes to the development of physical disability, morbidity and mortality in the ageing population.
Sarcopenia is now recognised in many countries as a muscle disease with an ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code for billing care related to this condition, despite no FDA-approved treatments being currently available. Areas covered: This review highlights the current state of knowledge regarding the
biological mechanisms contributing to the age-related loss of muscle mass and function and provides a summary of existing and emerging
pharmacotherapies in clinical trials for
sarcopenia. Expert opinion: While understanding of the pathophysiology of
sarcopenia has progressed, rigorous preclinical studies that better inform clinical trials are needed to accelerate
drug discovery and identify safe and effective treatments. Few drugs have been developed specifically for
sarcopenia and many have failed to meet clinically relevant outcomes related to strength and physical performance. The multifactorial complexity of
sarcopenia means that tailored, personalised treatments are more likely to be required than just a single intervention.