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EGFR inhibitors

Other names: anti-EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, erbB-1, HER-1

What are EGFR inhibitors?

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, also known as ErbB-1 or HER-1) inhibitors are medicines that bind to certain parts of the EGFR and slow down or stop cell growth.

EGFR is a protein that is found on the surface of some cells that causes cells to divide when epidermal growth factor binds to it. EGFR is found at abnormally high levels in cancer cells, and EGFR activation appears to be important in tumor growth and progression. Some types of cancers show mutations in their EGFRs, which may cause unregulated cell division through continual or abnormal activation of the EGFR.

EGFR inhibitors can be classified as either:

  • tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) (eg, erlotinib, gefitinib): these bind to the tyrosine kinase domain in the epidermal growth factor receptor and stop the activity of the EGFR
  • monoclonal antibodies (eg, cetuximab, necitumumab): these bind to the extracellular component of the EGFR and prevent epidermal growth factor from binding to its own receptor, therefore preventing cell division.

EGFR inhibitors may be used in the treatment of cancers that are caused by EGFR up-regulation, such as non-small-cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer.

List of EGFR inhibitors

View by  Brand | Generic
Drug Name Avg. Rating Reviews
Tarceva (Pro)
Generic name: erlotinib
8.4
41 reviews
Tagrisso (Pro)
Generic name: osimertinib
7.1
34 reviews
Nerlynx (Pro)
Generic name: neratinib
4.9
20 reviews
Erbitux (Pro)
Generic name: cetuximab
6.9
9 reviews
Iressa (Pro)
Generic name: gefitinib
8.9
8 reviews
Vectibix (Pro)
Generic name: panitumumab
6.3
4 reviews
Vizimpro (Pro)
Generic name: dacomitinib
No reviews
Tykerb (Pro)
Generic name: lapatinib
No reviews
Portrazza (Pro)
Generic name: necitumumab
No reviews
Exkivity (Pro)
Generic name: mobocertinib
No reviews
Caprelsa (Pro)
Generic name: vandetanib
No reviews
For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.