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
ir@halozyme.com
Jim Mazzola
Halozyme Therapeutics
858-704-8122
ir@halozyme.com
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SOURCE Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.