EMP2-scFv-granzyme B

EMP2-scFv-granzyme B (also known as GrB-Fc-KS49) is a novel recombinant fusion protein therapeutic designed to target Epithelial Membrane Protein-2 (EMP2). It consists of active human granzyme B (GrB) fused to an anti-EMP2 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibody, tethered through an immunoglobulin G heavy chain (Fc) domain. Developed collaboratively by Texas A&M University, UCLA, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, the drug is designed to treat invasive breast cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). It operates via a dual mechanism of action: direct, antigen-mediated delivery of the cytotoxic granzyme B payload to induce apoptosis in EMP2-expressing tumor cells, and a secondary, indirect effect of inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD). This ICD triggers the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) such as HMGB1, ATP, and calreticulin, which recruits immune cells and remodels the tumor microenvironment to target both antigen-positive and antigen-negative tumor cells.

Other names

anti-EMP2 granzyme B fusion proteinanti-EMP-2 granzyme B fusion proteinanti-EMP 2 granzyme B fusion proteinEMP2-targeted granzyme B fusionEMP-2-targeted granzyme B fusionEMP 2-targeted granzyme B fusion