Janssen, Halozyme in Global Drug Development Pact

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. has entered into a worldwide collaboration and license agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc. to develop and commercialize products combining Janssen compounds with Halozyme’s ENHANZE technology. ENHANZE is based on a recombinant human hyaluronidase enzyme (rHuPH20) that temporarily modifies hyaluronan to aid in the dispersion and absorption of other injected drugs.
 
Halozyme has granted Janssen a worldwide license to develop and commercialize products for as many as five targets combining rHuPH20 with Janssen’s proprietary compounds. Halozyme will receive an initial payment of $15 million and is eligible to receive additional development, regulatory and sales-based milestones totaling as much as $566 million. Halozyme is also entitled to royalties on sales of products using the ENHANZE technology.
 
Janssen will have 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 chief executive officer. “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.”