A combination preparation of the fumarate salt of a beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist and a macrolide antibiotic, with muscle-sparing and anti-cachexia effects. Formoterol appears to antagonize cachexia by reducing proteolysis mediated through the ubiquitin-protease pathway. Roxithromycin strongly inhibits inflammatory cytokine production and secretion from T cells and macrophages in vitro and in vivo. The combination exhibits a greater muscle sparing effect than either drug given individually at comparable doses.