SAN DIEGO, Oct. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) today announced an oral presentation on the pharmacology of PEGPH20 at the New York Academy of Sciences symposium “Targeting Key Vulnerabilities in Pancreatic Cancer,” being held on October 9, 2014 in New York City. The presentation includes preclinical data showing that treatment with PEGPH20 of tumors with high levels of hyaluronan (HA) is associated with alterations of the tumor microenvironment resulting in a reduction of fluid pressure and an increase of blood flow inside the tumors. These changes allow anti-cancer therapies such as chemotherapies, monoclonal antibodies and activated immune cells to have greater access into the tumors. The presentation will also include data showing that in selected animal models, treatment with PEGPH20 plus anti-cancer therapies resulted in longer survival and reduced metastases compared to anti-cancer therapies alone.
PEGPH20, an investigational PEGylated form of rHuPH20 under development by Halozyme, degrades the hyaluronan in the tumor microenvironment that may provide a supportive environment in many solid tumors.
“These data in animal models support our ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial (Study 202) evaluating PEGPH20 in patients with pancreatic cancer and offer scientific insight into ways to utilize PEGPH20 to favorably alter the tumor stroma of HA rich tumors to potentially improve many cancer therapies,” stated H. Michael Shepard, Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer.
Presentation Details
Title: “Enzymatic Remodeling of the Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Tumor Microenvironment to Improve Chemotherapeutic Efficacy”
Presentation Time: 3:45 p.m. ET/12:45 p.m. PT.
Summary: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is characterized by a tumor microenvironment (TME) with high stromal desmoplasia, a reduction in vessel density, and poor perfusion, all instrumental in PDAs’ observed resistance to chemotherapeutic intervention. Hyaluronan (HA) has been shown to accumulate to high levels in approximately 90% of PDA tumors, and is thought to be a key component of this desmoplastic response. In preclinical mouse models, including tumor xenografts, patient-derived tumor xenografts, and genetically engineered mouse models of pancreatic cancer (KPC), depletion of HA from the TME with a pegylated recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (PEGPH20) is associated with remodeling of the tumor stroma, reduction of tumor interstitial fluid pressure, expansion of tumor blood vessels and facilitated delivery of chemotherapy. Studies in the KPC model have shown that increased tumor perfusion following PEGPH20 treatment in combination with gemcitabine persists for weeks after therapy cessation. Combinations with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine more than doubles survival in some pancreatic tumor models.
About Halozyme
Halozyme Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative products that advance patient care. With a diversified portfolio of enzymes that target the extracellular matrix, the Company’s research focuses primarily on a family of human enzymes, known as hyaluronidases, which increase the dispersion and absorption of biologics, drugs and fluids. Halozyme’s pipeline addresses therapeutic areas, including oncology, diabetes and dermatology that have significant unmet medical need today. The Company markets Hylenex® recombinant (hyaluronidase human injection) and has partnerships with Roche, Pfizer and Baxter. Halozyme is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information on how we are innovating, please visit our corporate website at 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 future actions relating to the development of PEGPH20 including the possibility that PEGPH20 may be used to address pancreatic cancer) 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 delays in completion of clinical trials and other development activities, the possibility of safety events, unexpected expenditures and costs, unexpected results or delays in 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 Halozyme’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 11, 2014.
Investor Contact:
Schond Greenway
Halozyme Therapeutics
858-704-8352
ir@halozyme.com
Media Contact:
Susan Neath Francis
212-301-7182
sfrancis@wcgworld.com
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SOURCE Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.
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