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Alexion licenses Halozyme's drug delivery tech

December 22, 2017 12:18 AM UTC

Halozyme Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:HALO) granted Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ALXN) a license to use its Enhanze technology to develop subcutaneous formulations of therapies against up to four targets, including a new formulation of ALXN1210. Halozyme will receive $40 million up front and is eligible for $160 million in milestones for each target, plus mid-single digit royalties.

Enhanze uses a recombinant human hyaluronidase enzyme (rHuPH20) that temporarily degrades hyaluronan to improve subcutaneous delivery of injectable biologics. Alexion said it hopes to use Enhanze to extend subcutaneous ALXN1210's dosing interval to biweekly or monthly. Alexion said it is planning a Phase III study to evaluate pharmacokinetics of weekly dosing of subcutaneous ALXN1210 to treat atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)...