Halozyme Announces Roche Begins Phase 1 Clinical Trial and Selects Fourth Exclusive Biologic Target

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. has announced that Roche has dosed the first patient in a Phase 1 pharmacokinetic clinical trial with a subcutaneous formulation using Enhanze Technology of a biologic directed to a Roche exclusive target. This has triggered a milestone payment under the agreement.

Roche has also selected an additional exclusive target under the existing license and collaboration agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will pay Halozyme for exclusive, global rights for the application of its hyaluronidase enzyme, rHuPH20, to a fourth biologic target selected by Roche.

Roche has also maintained its rights to other targets covered in the license and collaboration agreement. An aggregate payment of $10.25 million will be made to Halozyme for commencing a Phase 1 clinical trial, exercising exclusive global rights to a fourth biologic target and for annual maintenance fees.

Halozyme also announced that it has entered into a supply agreement with Roche to provide rHuPH20 for use in formulations with biologics directed against Roche targets covered under the licensing and collaboration agreement.

Halozyme continues to scale up its manufacturing processes to enhance yields and efficiencies in order to produce multi-kilogram quantities of enzyme. As specified in the agreement, Halozyme will supply rHuPH20 to Roche to fulfill all of its clinical development and commercialization requirements.