Dive Brief:
- Halozyme Therapeutics is receiving a $5 million milestone payment from Roche for the launch of MabThera (rituximab) SC in Europe. MabThera SC was developed, in part, using Halozyme’s Enhanze technology (recombinant human hyaluronidase---rHuPH20).
- MabThera SC received approval for treatment of follicular lymphoma and diffuse, large B-cell lymphoma in March 2014.
- The milestone payment is part of a broader licensing and collaboration agreement between Roche and Halozyme that was initiated in December 2006.
Dive Insight:
Halozyme brings its patented Enhanze technology to its collaborative partnership with Roche. The goal of this collaborative relationship is to use Enhanze technology to develop biological compounds. Roche has agreed to focus on up to five targets.
Using this technology, MabThera (rituximab) was formulated to allow patients to receive therapy in less time, more conveniently. What would normally require 2.5 hours of intravenous infusion only requires a little more than five minutes of subcutaneous administration using Halozyme’s technology.