Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALXN) and Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (HALO) announced a collaboration and license agreement that enables Alexion to use Halozyme’s ENHANZE® drug-delivery technology in the development of subcutaneous formulations for their portfolio of products. The agreement provides Alexion with the opportunity for exclusive development of up to four targets, including a next generation subcutaneous formulation of ALXN1210 (ALXN1210 SC), the company’s investigational long-acting C5 complement inhibitor, to potentially further extend the dosing interval of ALXN1210 SC to once every two weeks or once per month.

“Alexion’s goal is to provide continued innovation and more treatment options that can significantly improve the lives of patients with rare diseases,” said John Orloff, M.D., Executive Vice President and Head of Research & Development at Alexion. “We are excited to partner with Halozyme and look forward to utilizing its ENHANZE technology, which enables rapid injection of subcutaneous treatments and potentially increases bioavailablity, in our development programs.”

“We are delighted to support Alexion’s innovative development initiatives focused on improving the lives of patients with rare diseases,” said Dr. Helen Torley, president and CEO of Halozyme. “ENHANZE has become the industry standard for converting intravenous therapies to a subcutaneous delivery, helping partners and health care providers reduce the treatment burden and administration time for patients.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Halozyme will receive an initial $40 million with the potential to earn additional payments of up to $160 million for each target developed, subject to achievement of specified development, regulatory and sales-based milestones. Halozyme will also receive mid-single digit royalties on sales of commercialized products.

The Halozyme ENHANZE technology is based on a proprietary recombinant human hyaluronidase enzyme (rHuPH20) that temporarily degrades hyaluronan -- a glycosaminoglycan or chain of natural sugars in the body -- to aid in the dispersion and absorption of other injected therapeutic drugs. For Halozyme partners, this technology may allow for more rapid delivery of injectable medications through subcutaneous injection (just under the skin). This delivery has been shown in studies to reduce health care practitioner time required for administration and shorten time for drug administration.

Alexion is Halozyme’s eighth global collaboration and license partner for the ENHANZE technology, and the third partnership formed in 2017. These partnerships cover nearly 50 therapeutic targets and include three commercialized products.