Lugano, Switzerland, December 18, 2013 – Helsinn Group is pleased to announce that exclusive distribution and licensing rights to its innovative ghrelin receptor agonist, anamorelin, in Italy, San Marino and Vatican City have been granted to its long- established partner Italfarmaco. Anamorelin is an innovative first-in-class, once daily oral drug currently in phase III for the treatment of anorexia-cachexia in NSCLC. Cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome is a severe multifactorial condition that involves systemic inflammation, reduced food intake and altered metabolism, which contribute to the loss of muscle mass and body weight. This leads to diminished quality of life, functional impairment and decreased survival.