FGF Family: From Drug Development to Clinical Application

The document reviewed the role of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family in drug development and clinical applications, focusing on its therapeutic potential in wound healing, metabolic diseases, and cancer treatment. It detailed the use of recombinant FGFs, such as FGF2, FGF7 (palifermin), and FGF10 (repifermin), in treating chronic wounds and mucositis, with varying degrees of success. The review also discussed the potential of FGF21 in treating metabolic conditions like diabetes and obesity, and the exploration of FGF23 antagonists for phosphorus metabolism disorders. Additionally, it highlighted the development of FGF receptor inhibitors for cancer therapy. The document emphasized the significant contributions of Chinese scientists to FGF drug development, with drugs like rh-FGF1 and rh-FGF2 approved in China for treating wounds and burns. Clinical trials in China have shown that rh-FGF1 significantly improved healing rates for burn wounds and skin graft donor sites. The review concluded that FGF signaling offers promising therapeutic targets and called for further research into FGF pharmacology and toxicology to develop new treatments. The research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, among other sources, and no conflicts of interest were reported.