THE-05

THE-05 is an engineered, recombinant human heavy-chain ferritin (HFt) nanocage platform developed by Thena Biotech. It is designed as a stimuli-sensitive, tumor microenvironment-activated drug delivery system. THE-05 is genetically modified with an N-terminal shielding PASE (Pro-Ala-Ser-Glu) moiety and a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2/9)-cleavable linker, which masks the nanocage during circulation to extend half-life and reduce off-target binding. In the tumor microenvironment, highly expressed MMPs cleave the PASE shield, allowing the de-shielded ferritin nanocage to bind to Transferrin Receptor 1 (TfR1/CD71) on cancer cells, triggering receptor-mediated endocytosis. THE-05 can encapsulate various therapeutic payloads in its hollow cavity; its lead clinical-stage formulation, THE-0504, encapsulates the non-camptothecin topoisomerase I inhibitor Genz-644282 and is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of advanced solid tumors.

Other names

HFt-MP-PASE variantThe-05The05The 05engineered human ferritin heavy chainhuman ferritin heavy chain variant