Halozyme Announces Positive Opinion From CHMP For European Approval Of Roche's MabThera SC

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) announced today that the EU Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended that the European Commission approve Roche's subcutaneous (SC) formulation of MabThera^® (rituximab) using Halozyme's recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) for the treatment of patients with common forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

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"This subcutaneous formulation of MabThera, pending approval in the EU, provides a new route of administration and a shortened treatment time of approximately five minutes that could potentially save time for NHL patients, physicians and other health care providers in Europe," said Dr. Helen Torley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Halozyme Therapeutics. "We are excited that our technology has helped enable this potential new treatment option for patients in Europe."

Currently, MabThera is delivered by an intravenous infusion which takes approximately 2.5 hours. The new MabThera SC formulation comes as a ready-to-use, fixed dose, 1,400 mg solution, which shortens pharmacy preparation time and reduces the overall impact on hospital resources.

The CHMP opinion is based primarily on data from Roche's Phase 3 SABRINA study. Roche expects a final decision from the European Commission in the coming months.

About Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are difficult-to-treat and represent approximately 84% of lymphoma diagnoses¹. NHL was responsible for over 200,000 annual deaths worldwide in 2010².

Lymphomas are a cancer of the lymphatic system (composed of lymph vessels, lymph nodes and organs) which helps to keep the body fluid levels balanced and to defend the body against infectious diseases. Lymphoma develops when white blood cells (usually B-lymphocytes) in the lymph fluid become cancerous and begin to multiply and collect in the lymph nodes or lymphatic tissues such as the spleen. Some of these cells are released into the bloodstream and spread around the body, interfering with the body's production of healthy blood cells.

Halozyme-Roche Collaboration
In December 2006, Halozyme entered into an agreement with Roche to apply Halozyme's proprietary Enhanze™ technology to Roche's biological therapeutic compounds. To date, Roche has elected to explore the use of rHuPH20 for up to a total of five exclusive targets, and Roche retains the option to apply rHuPH20 to three additional targets through the payment of annual license maintenance fees. Subject to the successful achievement of clinical, regulatory, and sales events, Roche will pay Halozyme additional milestones as well as royalties on product sales for Herceptin SC, MabThera SC and any other product candidates which would be successfully developed and commercialized under the agreement.  

About Halozyme
Halozyme Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative products that advance patient care. With a diversified portfolio of enzymes that target the extracellular matrix, the Company's research focuses primarily on a family of human enzymes, known as hyaluronidases, which increase the dispersion and absorption of biologics, drugs and fluids. Halozyme's pipeline addresses therapeutic areas, including diabetes, oncology and dermatology that have significant unmet medical need. The Company markets Hylenex^® recombinant (hyaluronidase human injection) and has partnerships with Roche, Pfizer, Baxter, and Intrexon. Halozyme is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information on how we are innovating, please visit our corporate website at www.halozyme.com and follow us on Twitter @HALOTherapeutic.

Safe Harbor Statement
This release includes forward-looking statements such as the potential benefits of MabThera SC to patients, physicians and the healthcare system, and the possible receipt by Halozyme of future milestones and royalties under the Roche/Halozyme collaboration agreement. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements: the approval of MabThera SC and other product candidates under the Halozyme-Roche Collaboration by the European Commission; satisfaction of regulatory and other requirements; actions of regulatory bodies and other governmental authorities; issues encountered in the sale of MabThera SC and other product candidates under the Halozyme-Roche Collaboration including the countries where the product is approved, approval timelines, the rate of conversion of IV formulation users to SC users, pricing and other commercial factors; unexpected adverse events; changes in laws and regulations; competitive conditions; and other risks identified in Halozyme's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2013. Halozyme does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

References:

¹Globocan (2008) Table by cancers.Worldwide incidence of cancers in males and females.
http://globocan.iarc.fr/ (URL accessed 18.09.13).
²Globocan (2008) Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide.World, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 2010.http://globocan.iarc.fr/burden.asp?selection_pop=220900&Text-p=World&selection_cancer=18250&Text-c=Non-Hodgkin+lymphoma&pYear=2&type=1&window=1&submit=%A0Execute%A0(URL accessed 18.09.13).

Investor Contact:
Schond Greenway
Halozyme Therapeutics
858-704-8352
[email protected]

Media Contact:
Nurha Hindi
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
310-633-9434
[email protected]

SOURCE Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.