Abstract: The preparation and use of a transducing polypeptide (TP)— lipid vesicle complex having a small proportion of positively charged (cationic) lipids in the make-up of the lipid vesicle, e.g., liposome, for safe and efficient intracellular delivery of therapeutic agents, such as proteins, DNA, small molecules and/or other drugs, into a cell of a higher organism, in vitro or in vivo is disclosed. The delivery system of the invention results in increased efficacy of intracellular delivery of such agents, bypassing the endocytotic pathway of intracellular delivery while at the same time minimizing the toxicity of the delivery system towards the recipient cells.