Palifermin is a form of recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor used to prevent and treat oral mucositis following radiation or chemotherapy. It is 140 residues long, and is produced using E. coli.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 4 references
Palifermin has been shown to protect oral and intestinal epithelia from the effects of radiation and chemotherapy, though the exact mechanism is not well understood. As a recombinant keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), palifermin may promote cell proliferation, reducing the severity of oral mucositis in patients in the relevant treatment groups. Agonism of fibroblast growth factor 2 may be predominantly responsible for this effect. The endogenous form if palifermin is expressed in the kidney of rats.
- Primary indication
- For treatment of oral mucositis associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.Curator reviewed · 2 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C721H1142N202O204S9 · 16192.7 Da
- First approval
- Canada, 2010 · United States, 2004
- Also known as
- 24-163 fibroblast growth factor 7 (human)
- Brand names
Resolves to
What you can answer from here — as of July 17, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Palifermin, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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