Therapeutics: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4; CD334)
Rodent studies suggest inhibition of FGFR4 could help treat heart failure caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD). In a mouse model of phosphate-induced CKD-related heart failure, FGFR4 knockout decreased left ventricular hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis compared with normal FGFR4 expression. In a rat model of surgery-induced CKD-related heart failure, an anti-FGFR4 antibody decreased abnormal left ventricular wall pathology and cardiac fibrosis compared with vehicle. Next steps could include testing the anti-FGFR4 antibody in additional animal models of heart failure.
Blueprint Medicines Corp. has BLU-554, an isoform-selective inhibitor of FGFR4, in Phase I to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and preclinical development to treat advanced unresectable cholangiocarcinoma...