Halozyme's ENHANZE® Technology Expands in Japan: Takeda's HYQVIA® Approved for Agammaglobulinemia and Hypogammaglobulinemia

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO) has announced that its partner, Takeda, has received regulatory approval for HYQVIA® [Immune Globulin Infusion 10% (Human) with Halozyme's Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase] in Japan. This approval marks a significant milestone for Halozyme's ENHANZE® drug delivery technology, as it expands its reach to patients with agammaglobulinemia or hypogammaglobulinemia, disorders characterized by very low or absent levels of antibodies and an increased risk of serious recurring infection.

HYQVIA® is the first plasma-derived therapy for subcutaneous injection in Japan that combines one vial of Immunoglobulin 10% and one vial of Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20), Halozyme's ENHANZE® drug delivery technology. The administration of ENHANZE® increases the dispersion and absorption of immunoglobulin (IG) in the subcutaneous tissue, allowing larger volumes to be infused in the infusion site. This allows for less frequent dosing compared to other subcutaneous IG products, while avoiding the need for venous access. The ability to infuse a larger infusion volume is expected to increase administration flexibility for patients with agammaglobulinemia or hypogammaglobulinemia by decreasing the dosing frequency to once every 3 or 4 weeks, as compared to weekly or bi-weekly with conventional SCIG treatments.

"We are very pleased that patients in Japan with agammaglobulinemia or hypogammaglobulinemia can now access HYQVIA, which represents the first and only subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy that offers the potential of a reduced dosing frequency," said Dr. Helen Torley, president and chief executive officer of Halozyme. "We appreciate the opportunity to continue to provide patients with more flexible treatment options with our innovative drug delivery technology."

The MHLW approval is based on data from two pivotal Phase 3, open-label, non-controlled studies evaluating the efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in Japanese subjects with PID (NCT05150340, NCT05513586). In these studies, the efficacy and safety profile of HYQVIA® in 16 patients aged 2 years or older in Japan were evaluated based on the results of the clinical trials. The Geo Mean of IgG trough level at the last 3 visits was 9.494g/L and was maintained at a level comparable to treatment with intravenous or subcutaneous immunoglobulin (Geo Mean of IgG trough level 9.624g/L). The major adverse reactions were pyrexia (5 patients, 31.3%) and infusion site erythema, injection site erythema, infusion site swelling, infusion site pain, and headache (12.5%)1. Data from two Phase 3 clinical trials conducted in patients with PID in North America (NCT00814320, NCT01175213) was also included in the submission.

The approval of HYQVIA® in Japan is expected to have a positive impact on Halozyme's revenue growth in the immunoglobulin therapy sector. As the first and only facilitated subcutaneous immunoglobulin (fSCIG) therapy available in Japan, HYQVIA® offers patients more flexibility in terms of dosing frequency and administration. This could potentially attract patients who are currently using other immunoglobulin therapies, such as intravenous or conventional subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) treatments, to switch to HYQVIA® due to its reduced dosing frequency and increased administration flexibility. As a result, the market share of existing immunoglobulin therapies may decrease, while HYQVIA®'s market share is likely to increase in the Japanese market.

In conclusion, the approval of HYQVIA® in Japan is a significant milestone for Halozyme's ENHANZE® drug delivery technology, as it expands its reach to patients with agammaglobulinemia or hypogammaglobulinemia. This approval is expected to have a positive impact on Halozyme's revenue growth in the immunoglobulin therapy sector and strengthen its strategic partnerships and collaborations in the sector. As HYQVIA® offers patients more flexibility in terms of dosing frequency and administration, it may attract more patients and increase market share, potentially leading to increased competition among other market players seeking to develop or offer similar treatment options.