MEL-pep

MEL-pep is a **synthetic peptide drug** that is a novel analog of the natural antibacterial peptide melittin, derived from bee venom. MEL-pep has been designed to disrupt cell membranes and has demonstrated potent anti-cancer activities, specifically against 5-fluorouracil-resistant human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. It binds directly to tumor cell membranes, leading to membrane disruption and cell death, and reverses chemotherapy resistance primarily by inhibiting P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression and deactivating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In preclinical studies, intratumoral administration in mouse xenograft models suppressed tumor growth in a dose-dependent manner. MEL-pep shows promise as a targeted therapy for chemotherapy-resistant HCC[2][6].

Other names

MEL-pep