UCSF To Study Halozyme PEGPH20 In Pancreatic Cancer Patients Who Are Candidates For Potentially Curative Surgery

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: HALO) today announced the Pancreas Center at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) has initiated a clinical research study of Halozyme's investigational new drug, PEGPH20 in pancreatic cancer patients who are candidates for potentially curative surgery. The trial will be conducted within the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The Phase 2 study will investigate PEGPH20 in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (ABRAXANE) in patients with borderline resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The study will track the progress of up to 36 patients through chemotherapy and surgical treatment.

PEGPH20 (PEGylated recombinant human hyaluronidase) targets the degradation of hyaluronan (HA), a chain of natural sugars that can accumulate around cancer cells, inhibiting other therapies. By degrading HA, PEGPH20 may increase the access of co-administered chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic agents.

"This is a unique study to determine if PEGPH20, when administered in combination with other cancer-fighting drugs, will better prepare patients for surgery," said Margaret Tempero, MD, director of the UCSF Pancreas Center. "We will observe outcomes of our patients to learn if this combination therapy with PEGPH20 could make a difference in potentially curative surgery."

At the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting this year, interim results of the randomized Phase 2 Study 202 clinical study of PEGPH20 with ABRAXANE and gemcitabine showed a doubling of progression-free survival and an improvement trend in overall survival in high HA metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. In addition, the potential risk profile, including the rate of thromboembolic events, were also presented.

"We believe PEGPH20 may improve the effectiveness of co-administered cancer therapies, and both our preclinical data and clinical studies in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients are showing encouraging results," said Halozyme Chief Medical Officer, Athena Countouriotis, MD. "We are very pleased that independent scientists within academia are interested in focusing on the tumor microenvironment and the potential benefits of PEGPH20 in another area of pancreatic cancer."

About HDFCCC at UCSF
The Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at UC San Francisco is a member of the national NCI-funded Cancer Center network focusing on research. The HDFCCC combines basic science, clinical research, epidemiology/cancer control and patient care from throughout the UCSF system. For more information, visit: http://cancer.ucsf.edu.

About UCSF Pancreas Center
The UCSF Pancreas Center treats patients with a wide range of pancreatic disorders from cancer and benign tumors to pancreatitis. Our team includes specialists in anesthesia, gastroenterology, neurology, nursing, psychology and surgery for the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the management of pain. Our patients also have the opportunity to participate in research to test the latest experimental therapies. For more information, visit: http://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics/pancreas_center/.

About Halozyme
Halozyme Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing novel oncology therapies that target the tumor microenvironment. Halozyme's lead proprietary program, investigational drug PEGPH20, applies a unique approach to targeting solid tumors, allowing increased access of co-administered cancer drug therapies to the tumor. PEGPH20 is currently in development for metastatic pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, metastatic breast cancer and has potential across additional cancers in combination with different types of cancer therapies. In addition to its proprietary product portfolio, Halozyme has established value-driving partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies including Roche, Baxalta, Pfizer, Janssen and AbbVie for its drug delivery platform, ENHANZE™, which enables biologics and small molecule compounds that are currently administered intravenously to be delivered subcutaneously. Halozyme is headquartered in San Diego. For more information visit www.halozyme.com.  

UC Disclaimer
The information stated above was prepared by Halozyme Therapeutics and reflects solely the opinion of the corporation. Nothing in this statement shall be construed to imply any support or endorsement of Halozyme, or any of its products, by The Regents of the University of California, its officers, agents and employees.

Safe Harbor Statement
In addition to historical information, the statements set forth above include forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, statements concerning the possible activity, benefits and attributes of PEGPH20, the possible method of action of PEGPH20, its potential application to improve cancer therapies and statements concerning future actions relating to the development of PEGPH20) that involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are typically, but not always, identified through use of the words "believe," "enable," "may," "will," "could," "intends," "estimate," "anticipate," "plan," "predict," "probable," "potential," "possible," "should," "continue," and other words of similar meaning. Actual results could differ materially from the expectations contained in forward-looking statements as a result of several factors, including unexpected expenditures and costs, unexpected results or delays in development and regulatory review, regulatory approval requirements, unexpected adverse events and competitive conditions. These and other factors that may result in differences are discussed in greater detail in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2015.

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

Jim Mazzola
Halozyme Therapeutics
858-704-8122
[email protected]                                   

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SOURCE Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.