SAN DIEGO, Nov. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO), an oncology biotech developing novel oncology and drug-delivery therapies, and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced an agreement to collaborate on clinical studies evaluating up to eight different tumor types beginning in 2017.
The first study will be a Phase 1b/2 open-label, multi-arm randomized global study, led by Genentech to evaluate their cancer immunotherapy Tecentriq® (atezolizumab), an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, in combination with Halozyme’s investigational drug, PEGPH20 in six tumor types. Halozyme will supply drug only for the Genentech study. This study will have an initial focus on gastrointestinal malignancies, including pancreatic and gastric cancers.
The second study will be a Phase 1b open-label randomized study led by Halozyme to assess Tecentriq in combination with PEGPH20 and chemotherapy in advanced or metastatic biliary and gallbladder cancers.
“High levels of hyaluronan (HA) have been shown in retrospective clinical reviews to be associated with a poor prognosis when compared to low-HA and in animal models to potentially impede the access of cancer therapy,” said Dr. Helen Torley, president and chief executive officer of Halozyme. “We look forward to exploring this combination therapy with our partner in a range of tumors given our shared focus on the tumor microenvironment and longstanding relationship working together on the development of Roche’s Herceptin SC® and MabThera SC® products for the EU market.”
PEGPH20 is an enzyme that temporarily degrades HA, a dense component of the tumor microenvironment that can accumulate in higher concentrations around certain cancer cells, potentially constricting blood vessels and impeding the access of other therapies.
Following the phase 1b portions to assess safety and tolerability of the combinations, the study designs may scale to registration trials. The Halozyme-led study will enroll only patients who are prospectively identified as having tumors with high levels of HA, while initial phases of the Genentech-led study will focus on an all-comer population with a target number of HA-high patients to be enrolled.
About Halozyme
Halozyme Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing novel oncology therapies that target the tumor microenvironment. Halozyme’s lead proprietary program, investigational drug PEGPH20, applies a unique approach to targeting solid tumors, allowing increased access of co-administered cancer drug therapies to the tumor in animal models. PEGPH20 is currently in development for metastatic pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, metastatic breast cancer and has potential across additional cancers in combination with different types of cancer therapies. In addition to its proprietary product portfolio, Halozyme has established value-driving partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies including Roche, Baxalta, Pfizer, Janssen, AbbVie and Lilly for its ENHANZE drug delivery platform. Halozyme is headquartered in San Diego. For more information visit www.halozyme.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
In addition to historical information, the statements set forth above include forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, statements concerning the possible activity, benefits and attributes of PEGPH20, the possible method of action of PEGPH20, its potential application to improve cancer therapies and statements concerning future actions relating to the development of PEGPH20) that involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are typically, but not always, identified through use of the words “believe,” “enable,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “intends,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “predict,” “probable,” “potential,” “possible,” “should,” “continue,” and other words of similar meaning. Actual results could differ materially from the expectations contained in forward-looking statements as a result of several factors, including unexpected expenditures and costs, unexpected results or delays in development and regulatory review, regulatory approval requirements, unexpected adverse events and competitive conditions. These and other factors that may result in differences are discussed in greater detail in the Company’s most recent Annual and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contacts:
Jim Mazzola
858-704-8122
ir@halozyme.com
Chris Burton
858-704-8352
ir@halozyme.com
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SOURCE Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.
