Which generation of targeted drugs does Erlotinib belong to and what is the difference between Erlotinib and Erdafitinib?

Erlotinib is a first-class epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), mainly used to treat patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As the first generation EGFR-TKI, erlotinib competitively binds to the ATP binding site of the receptor, blocking downstream signaling pathways and inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and survival. It is one of the earliest drugs widely used in targeted therapy of lung cancer. It has remarkable efficacy, but its effect on some drug-resistant mutations such as T790M is limited.

In contrast, Erdafitinib belongs to another class of targeted drugs and is an oral fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor. It is mainly used to treat urothelial cancer and other solid tumors with altered FGFR genes. It blocks tumor cell growth and angiogenesis by inhibiting the FGFR signaling pathway. The target and mechanism of action of erdafitinib are completely different from those of erlotinib. They target different molecular targets and cancer types.

From the perspective of application scope, erlotinib is mainly used for lung cancer, especially lung cancer patients driven by EGFR mutations; while erdafitinib is more used for tumors with abnormal FGFR genes such as urinary system tumors. The two represent targeted treatment strategies targeting different molecular pathways and embody the development direction of precision medicine, which is to select the most appropriate targeted drugs based on the molecular characteristics of the tumor.
In summary, erlotinib is a first-generation EGFR-targeted drug and is mainly used for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer; while erdatinib is an inhibitor of the FGFR pathway and is used in urothelial cancer. There are significant differences in the targets, indications and mechanisms of action of the two. Patients and doctors should rationally choose appropriate targeted drugs for treatment based on the specific condition and molecular test results.
Reference: https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/