VEGFA and hepatocellular carcinoma: Until 2007, the number of patent publications peaked, when an oral multi-kinase inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), sorafenib from Bayer was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first line treatment for advanced HCC based on a 3-month median overall survival (OS) improvement compared with placebo (10.7 months vs 7.9 months; HR, 0.69) 20.