FcIgG-GE11-Melittin as a novel EGFR targeted peptibody with potent cytotoxic activity against cancer cells

The overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in various cancer types makes it an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. In this study, we designed a novel peptibody, FcIgG-GE11-Melittin, by fusing Melittin, a cytotoxic peptide from bee venom, to an EGFR-targeting peptibody (FcIgG-GE11). The FcIgG-GE11 component ensures specific binding to EGFR-overexpressing cancer cells, while Melittin induces cell death through its lytic activity. We evaluated the efficacy of FcIgG-GE11-Melittin in vitro using EGFR-overexpressing cancer cell lines. Our results demonstrate that FcIgG-GE11-Melittin selectively targets and kills EGFR-positive cancer cells while sparing normal cells. These findings highlight the potential of FcIgG-GE11-Melittin as a targeted therapeutic agent for EGFR-overexpressing cancers.