Roche’s subsidiary, Genentech, has formed a collaboration with Halozyme Therapeutics, a San Diego-based oncology-focused biotechnology company, for clinical studies evaluating up to eight different tumor types beginning in 2017. The first study will be a Phase Ib/II study led by Genentech to evaluate its 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 Ib study led by Halozyme to assess Tecentriq in combination with PEGPH20 and chemotherapy in advanced or metastatic biliary and gallbladder cancers. PEGPH20 is an enzyme that temporarily degrades hyaluronic acid, a dense component of the tumor microenvironment that can accumulate in higher concentrations around certain cancer cells, potentially constricting blood vessels, according to Halozyme.

Source: Halozyme Therapeutics