Janssen has obtained a worldwide license to Halozyme’s Enhanze technology with the goal of developing and commercializing products combining Janssen compounds with Enhanze technology. Enhanze is based on a proprietary recombinant human hyaluronidase enzyme (rHuPH20) that temporarily modifies hyaluronan, a component of the extracellular matrix, to aid in the dispersion and absorption of other injected therapeutic drugs.
Halozyme will receive an initial payment of $15 million, and is eligible to receive additional payments upon Janssen's achievement of specified development, regulatory, and sales-based milestones, totaling up to $566 million. Halozyme is also entitled to royalty payments based on net sales of products using the Enhanze technology. Under the collaboration, Janssen will also obtain access to Halozyme's expertise in developing and applying rHuPH20 to Janssen targets and will obtain a worldwide, exclusive license to develop and commercialize product combinations of rHuPH20 and Janssen target compounds resulting from the collaboration.
“We are pleased that Janssen, a global leader in the development of novel therapeutics, has selected our Enhanze technology to further augment their development pipeline,” said Dr. Helen Torley, president and CEO. “This new global licensing agreement further validates our Enhanze platform technology, which we believe may benefit a growing number of patients worldwide by making therapies more convenient.”
In April, the European Commission approved a new formulation of Roche’s MabThera (rituximab) that uses Halozyme Therapeutics’ Enhanze technology.
