HGF hepatocyte growth factor
ENSG00000019991 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Potent mitogen for mature parenchymal hepatocyte cells, seems to be a hepatotrophic factor, and acts as a growth factor for a broad spectrum of tissues and cell types (PubMed:20624990). Activating ligand for the receptor tyrosine kinase MET by binding to it and promoting its dimerization (PubMed:15167892, PubMed:20977675). Activates MAPK signaling following TMPRSS13 cleavage and activation (PubMed:20977675). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:15167892, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20624990, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20977675}.
Each band is a group of drugs. It runs from the kind of drug on the left to the furthest stage that drug has reached in any disease on the right. Thicker bands mean more drugs.
Approved bands are highlighted. Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development. A combined phase counts as the later one (Phase 1/2 is shown as Phase 2). Hover a band for the drug names. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Each row is a cancer, strongest overall evidence first. The two dots show how strong the inherited (germline) and tumour-mutation (somatic) evidence is; the line between them is the gap.
Scores run from 0 (no evidence) to 1 (strongest). A missing dot at 0 means Open Targets holds no evidence of that kind. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Tractability
- Small molecule
- Structure with Ligand, High-Quality Pocket, Druggable Family
- Antibody
- Advanced Clinical, GO CC high conf, UniProt SigP or TMHMM
- PROTAC
- Small Molecule Binder
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.34946998953819275 (upper bound 0.45645999908447266). Low values mean loss of function is poorly tolerated, a safety flag for inhibition.
Who runs trials of these drugs
Principal investigators and study chairs on 5 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against HGF (ficlatuzumab, rilotumumab), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Alice MimsBeat AML · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Julie E. BaumanThe University of Arizona · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of ficlatuzumab, rilotumumab updated in the last three years, counted by the country group of their listed sites. A trial with sites in several groups counts in each; 2 of 3 have all sites in one country.
Site counts are not patients per country, and trials registered only outside ClinicalTrials.gov are not covered. Where sites are is a fact about the record, not a judgement of its quality. Europe is the EU and EEA, the UK and Switzerland. 2 trials list no sites and are left out. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
10 trials of drugs against HGF were stopped early
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of ficlatuzumab, rilotumumab, newest update first, live from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each reason is quoted exactly as the registry gives it; we do not sort reasons into safety, efficacy or business. Dates are the last registry update. Showing the 10 most recent of 10.
- terminated · 2024-08-23 · NantCell, Inc. · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Subjects discontinued study”
- terminated · 2020-10-22 · AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · Ficlatuzumab“Sponsor's decision”
- withdrawn · 2020-03-31 · AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. · Ficlatuzumab“Urgent shift among clinical sites toward efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic;impacted feasibility of completing study within shelf-life of current IP supply”
- terminated · 2020-03-24 · C. Babis Andreadis · Ficlatuzumab“Low Accrual”
- terminated · 2020-03-19 · SWOG Cancer Research Network · Rilotumumab“Drug company decided to terminate all sponsored clinical studies involving rilotumumab.”
- terminated · 2017-11-13 · Julie E. Bauman, MD, MPH · Ficlatuzumab“the investigator left the institution”
- terminated · 2016-04-04 · Amgen · Rilotumumab“All Amgen sponsored AMG102 clinical studies were terminated following a pre-planned Data Monitoring Committee safety review of study 20070622.”
- terminated · 2016-02-09 · Amgen · Rilotumumab“All Amgen sponsored AMG102 clinical studies were terminated following a pre-planned Data Monitoring Committee safety review of study 20070622.”
- withdrawn · 2013-08-02 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · rilotumumab“withdrawn”
- withdrawn · 2012-02-20 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Sponsor decision.”
Paediatric incentives and obligations for HGF's drugs
For ficlatuzumab, rilotumumab: what EMA and FDA publish about paediatric plans, orphan status and pediatric approvals, and how many registered studies take children. Each line is a yes, no or not published fact from the record linked under it; none of it is a forecast.
- FDA pediatric target list: no · HGF is not on the listRule: Target is on FDA's Pediatric Molecular Target List (relevant targets). Source: FDA Pediatric Molecular Target List (Listed as February 2026 on the FDA Pediatric Oncology page; the file served is 9.7.22_the_relevant_molecular_target_list.xlsx, whose Summary of Changes sheet is headed 'SEPTEMBER 2022 UPDATE' (footnote date 2022-09-01)), 2026-11-11
- EU paediatric investigation plan: no · No EMA paediatric investigation plan decision names ficlatuzumab, rilotumumabRule: An EMA PIP decision (agreement, modification or waiver) lists the drug as its active substance, exact name. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- EU orphan designation: yes · EU/3/14/1291 withdrawn 29 Jul 2014: Treatment of gastric cancerRule: An EU orphan designation lists the drug as its active substance (exact name) or belongs to a medicine that does; withdrawn and expired designations are listed with their status. Source: EMA EU/3/14/1291, 2026-11-11
- Authorised in the EU: no · EMA lists no centrally authorised medicine of ficlatuzumab, rilotumumabRule: An EMA medicine record lists the drug as its active substance or INN, exact name; national-only authorisations are not in this file. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- FDA orphan designation: not published · FDA's orphan designation database turns away automated requests, so this app does not read it; search it by hand at the linkRule: Would be: an FDA orphan designation names the drug. Source: FDA orphan designations search
- FDA pediatric oncology approval: no · FDA's table lists no pediatric approval of ficlatuzumab, rilotumumabRule: FDA's Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals table names the drug. Source: FDA Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals (content current as of 2026-03-03), 2026-11-11
- Registered studies open to children: no · No interventional study of ficlatuzumab, rilotumumab includes patients under 18Rule: The registry's age group includes Child (birth to 17 years), which also counts studies that set no minimum age. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov search, 2026-11-11
Rare pediatric disease voucher. FDA, content current as of 29 Apr 2026: “As of February 3, 2026, enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, the rare pediatric disease PRV program will sunset after September 30, 2029. FDA may not award any PRVs under this program after September 30, 2029.” Voucher sale prices are not shown here; they appear only as company-reported news. FDA: Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Priority Review Voucher Programs
All 2 drugs and clinical candidates as a table
Each drug, stage and indication links to its Open Targets record, where the trials and approvals behind it are listed. Salt forms (for example a mesylate) are listed as Open Targets records them, as separate entries.