Approaches targeting the FGF-FGFR system: a review of the recent patent literature and associated advanced therapeutic agents.

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) and associated ligands (FGFs) are a family of well-validated targets for therapeutic interventions notably in cancer diseases in relation to their prominent roles in cell growth, survival, differentiation and angiogenesis. This patent review encompasses all different approaches (modulators of FGF or FGFR expression, anti-FGF antibodies, anti-FGFR antibodies, FGF traps, tyrosine-kinase (TK) inhibitors, allosteric modulators) used to block completely or partially the activities of the FGF–FGFR complexes resulting in clinical drug candidates or tool agents. Comparative analysis of biochemical, pharmacological or clinical data will be discussed for each class of molecules together with some perspectives.