EGFR epidermal growth factor receptor
ENSG00000146648 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Receptor tyrosine kinase binding ligands of the EGF family and activating several signaling cascades to convert extracellular cues into appropriate cellular responses (PubMed:10805725, PubMed:12297050, PubMed:12620237, PubMed:12873986, PubMed:15374980, PubMed:15590694, PubMed:17115032, PubMed:19560417, PubMed:21258366, PubMed:27153536, PubMed:2790960, PubMed:35538033, PubMed:9488479). Known ligands include EGF, TGFA/TGF-alpha, AREG, epigen/EPGN, BTC/betacellulin, epiregulin/EREG and HBEGF/heparin-binding EGF (PubMed:12297049, PubMed:15611079, PubMed:17909029, PubMed:20837704, PubMed:27153536, PubMed:2790960, PubMed:7679104, PubMed:8144591, PubMed:9419975). Ligand binding triggers receptor homo- and/or heterodimerization and autophosphorylation on key cytoplasmic residues (PubMed:10026169, PubMed:17349580, PubMed:18046415, PubMed:19560417, PubMed:19836242). The phosphorylated receptor recruits adapter proteins like GRB2 which in turn activates complex downstream signaling cascades (PubMed:10026169, PubMed:17349580, PubMed:18046415, PubMed:19560417, PubMed:19836242). Activates at least 4 major downstream signaling cascades including the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK, PI3 kinase-AKT, PLCgamma-PKC and STATs modules (PubMed:27153536). May also activate the NF-kappa-B signaling cascade (PubMed:11116146). Also directly phosphorylates other proteins like RGS16, activating its GTPase activity and probably coupling the EGF receptor signaling to the G protein-coupled receptor signaling (PubMed:11602604). Also phosphorylates MUC1 and increases its interaction with SRC and CTNNB1/beta-catenin (PubMed:11483589). Positively regulates cell migration via interaction with CCDC88A/GIV which retains EGFR at the cell membrane following ligand stimulation, promoting EGFR signaling which triggers cell migration (PubMed:20462955). Acts as a positive regulator of cGAS-STING signaling by mediating tyrosine phosphorylation of STING1, promoting production of type I interferon (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta), while inhibiting STING1 ability to regulate autophagy (PubMed:32926474). Plays a role in enhancing learning and memory performance (By similarity). Plays a role in mammalian pain signaling (long-lasting hypersensitivity) (By similarity). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q01279, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10026169, ECO:0000269|PubMed:10805725, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11116146, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11483589, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11602604, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12297049, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12297050, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12620237, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12873986, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15374980, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15590694, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15611079, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17115032, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17349580, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17909029, ECO:0000269|PubMed:18046415, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19560417, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19836242, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20462955, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20837704, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21258366, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27153536, ECO:0000269|PubMed:2790960, ECO:0000269|PubMed:32926474, ECO:0000269|PubMed:35538033, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7679104, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8144591, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9419975, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9488479}.
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
- Approved Drug, Structure with Ligand, High-Quality Ligand, High-Quality Pocket, Druggable Family
- Antibody
- Approved Drug, UniProt loc high conf, GO CC high conf, UniProt loc med conf, UniProt SigP or TMHMM, Human Protein Atlas loc
- PROTAC
- Literature, UniProt Ubiquitination, Database Ubiquitination, Half-life Data, Small Molecule Binder
- Other modalities
- Advanced Clinical
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.4055599868297577 (upper bound 0.5046899914741516). 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 400 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against EGFR (cetuximab sarotalocan, brigatinib, lazertinib, afatinib, rociletinib, neratinib, olmutinib, lapatinib, mobocertinib, nimotuzumab, aumolertinib, osimertinib), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Helena YuMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · 3 of 5 trials Phase 2+
- Xingchen PengWest China Hospital · 3 of 5 trials Phase 2+Ph1NCT06741982 · A Clinical Study on Neoadjuvant Treatment of Resectable Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma With Immune-targeted Therapy and Lysogenic HSV Virusbrief
- Shun LuShanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University, #241 Huai Hai Road (west), Shanghai, China. · 3 of 3 trials Phase 2+Ph3NCT05261399 · Savolitinib Plus Osimertinib Versus Platinum-based Doublet Chemotherapy in Participants With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Who Have Progressed on Osimertinib Treatmentbrief
- Yuankai ShiCancer Institute/Hospital, Chinese Academic of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College · 3 of 3 trials Phase 2+
- Li ZhangSun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center · 2 of 3 trials Phase 2+
- Caicun ZhouShanghai East Hospital · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- David PlanchardDepartment of Medical Oncology - Institut Gustave Roussy (IGR) - Villejuif - France · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Helena A YuECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Hye Ryun KimSeverance Hospital · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Jonathan W GoldmanUCLA / Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Lecia V SequistMassachusetts General Hospital · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Lin ShenPeking University Cancer Hospital & Institute · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Rachel LaymanM.D. Anderson Cancer Center · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Rafal DziadziuszkoMedical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Sarah B GoldbergYale University Cancer Center LAO · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of cetuximab sarotalocan, brigatinib, lazertinib, afatinib, rociletinib, neratinib, olmutinib, lapatinib, mobocertinib, nimotuzumab, aumolertinib, osimertinib 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; 274 of 375 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. 25 trials list no sites and are left out. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
181 trials of drugs against EGFR were stopped early; 20 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of cetuximab sarotalocan, brigatinib, lazertinib, afatinib, rociletinib, neratinib, olmutinib, lapatinib, mobocertinib, nimotuzumab, aumolertinib, osimertinib, 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 25 most recent of 181.
- terminated · 2026-10-26 · Merus B.V. · Osimertinib“The Sponsor terminated the trial early for strategic business reasons. This isn't related to any safety/efficacy/clinical activity/benefit-risk concern with petosemtamab. Ongoing participants will have access to treatment outside of this trial.”
- suspended · 2026-10-21 · Virginia Commonwealth University · Neratinib“Pending amendment approval”
- withdrawn · 2026-10-16 · West China Hospital · Afatinib“The study was withdrawn prior to participant enrollment due to administrative and protocol optimization considerations.”
- terminated · 2026-10-08 · Jin Hyoung Kang · Lazertinib“Slow accrual; enrollment was closed after 14 of 28 planned participants.”
- withdrawn · 2026-10-05 · Biotech Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. · Nimotuzumab injection“Study withdrawn before enrollment of any participant due to a corporate strategic decision. Not related to safety or efficacy concerns.”
- terminated · 2026-09-21 · Massachusetts General Hospital · Osimertinib“Slow accrual.”
- withdrawn · 2026-09-15 · Roswell Park Cancer Institute · Cetuximab Sarotalocan Sodium“Lack of funding”
- terminated · 2026-07-22 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Neratinib“<75% participation”
- terminated · 2026-06-12 · Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Strategic business decision (unrelated to safety)”
- terminated · 2026-06-03 · Petrov, Andrey · Afatinib Dimaleat, inhalation of afatinib dimaleate“adjustment of the study design taking into account the receipt of primary data”
- terminated · 2026-04-28 · OHSU Knight Cancer Institute · Osimertinib“Loss of support.”
- terminated · 2026-04-27 · Partner Therapeutics, Inc. · Afatinib Oral Tablet“Merus terminated the study early due to changes in organizational priorities.”
- terminated · 2026-04-23 · National Cancer Institute (NCI) · Brigatinib“Inadequate accrual rate”
- terminated · 2026-04-21 · Institut Paoli-Calmettes · BKM120 + lapatinib“Drug development withdrawn”
- terminated · 2026-02-12 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Neratinib“<75% accrued”
- terminated · 2026-01-22 · Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · Neratinib“Slow accrual”
- withdrawn · 2025-11-19 · West China Hospital · Afatinib“The study was withdrawn prior to participant enrollment due to administrative and protocol optimization considerations.”
- terminated · 2025-10-15 · AstraZeneca · osimertinib“Enrollment delay study timeline seriously.”
- terminated · 2025-10-09 · University of Southern California · lapatinib ditosylate“Trial not progressing toward scientific goals”
- terminated · 2025-06-11 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Neratinib“Sponsor Withdrew Support”
- terminated · 2025-04-25 · University of Chicago · afatinib dimaleate“Unable to meet accrual goal after several years”
- withdrawn · 2025-04-24 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Brigatinib“0 participants enrolled”
- withdrawn · 2025-03-28 · Eurofarma Laboratorios S.A. · Nimotuzumab“change company strategy”
- terminated · 2025-03-03 · Georgetown University · Lapatinib and Capecitabine“slow enrollment”
- terminated · 2025-02-11 · Boehringer Ingelheim · BIBW 2992 (Afatinib)No reason given
Paediatric incentives and obligations for EGFR's drugs
For cetuximab sarotalocan, brigatinib, lazertinib, afatinib, rociletinib, neratinib, olmutinib, lapatinib, mobocertinib, nimotuzumab, aumolertinib, osimertinib: 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: yes · EGFR is on the list. Membership alone neither requires nor waives a pediatric study.Rule: 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: yes · EMA/PE/0000236723 (brigatinib, Treatment of anaplastic large cell lymphoma): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 15 Apr 2025; EMEA-003106-PIP01-21 (aumolertinib, Treatment of lung cancer): W: decision granting a waiver in all age groups for all conditions or indications, 31 Jan 2022; EMEA-001596-PIP02-17-M02 (afatinib, Treatment of all conditions included in the category of malignant neoplasms (excluding central nervous system, haematopoietic and lymphoid tissue neoplasms);Treatment of malignant neoplasms of the central nervous system): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 13 May 2020; compliance positive 23 Apr 2021; EMEA-002783-PIP01-20 (neratinib, Treatment of breast cancer): W: decision granting a waiver in all age groups for all conditions or indications, 15 Jul 2020; +2 moreRule: 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/3/24/2929 positive 28 Jun 2024: Treatment of complex regional pain syndrome; EU/3/18/2110 positive 14 Dec 2018: Treatment of Fanconi anaemia; EU/3/08/550 positive 3 Jun 2008: Treatment of pancreatic 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 data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- Authorised in the EU: yes · Lazcluze: authorised since 20 Jan 2025; Aumseqa: revoked since 12 Feb 2026; Tagrisso: authorised since 1 Feb 2016; Giotrif: authorised since 25 Sept 2013; +5 moreRule: 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 cetuximab sarotalocan, brigatinib, lazertinib, afatinib, rociletinib, neratinib, olmutinib, lapatinib, mobocertinib, nimotuzumab, aumolertinib, osimertinibRule: 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: yes · 31 interventional studies of cetuximab sarotalocan, brigatinib, lazertinib, afatinib, rociletinib, neratinib, olmutinib, lapatinib, mobocertinib, nimotuzumab, aumolertinib, osimertinib include patients under 18; 7 are recruiting, not yet recruiting or activeRule: 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 82 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.