AbbVie has discontinued a development program with Halozyme Therapeutics, a San Diego-headquartered biotechnology company, using the Halozyme Enhanze platform technology, a drug-delivery platform, and a tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) target. The decision was made following completion of a Phase I study in which the target results were not achieved.

Halozyme’s Enhanze drug-delivery technology platform is based on a patented recombinant human hyaluronidase enzyme (rHuPH20), which is designed to remove limitations on the volume of biologics and drugs that can be delivered subcutaneously and allows some biologics and compounds that are administered intravenously to instead be delivered subcutaneously.

AbbVie will continue to work collaboratively with Halozyme to identify additional targets for co-development under a global collaboration and licensing agreement the companies formed in 2015. TNF-alpha was the first nominated target of nine included as part of the agreement.

Halozyme’s lead program, an investigational drug designated PEGPH20, targets solid tumors. PEGPH20 is currently in development for metastatic pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, gastric cancer, and metastatic breast cancer. Halozyme has also established partnerships with Roche, Baxalta, Pfizer, Janssen, AbbVie, and Lilly for its Enhanze drug delivery platform.

Source: Halozyme Therapeutics

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