BRIEF—Alexion inks deal to explore new drug delivery formulations

Nasdaq-listed Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Halozyme Therapeutics have agreed a deal based on the latter firm’s Enhanze technology, for the development of subcutaneous drug-delivery formulations.

Oncology specialist Alexion gains exclusive development rights for of up to four targets, including the investigational long-acting C5 complement inhibitor ALXN1210.

The company wants to explore the possibility of extending the dosing interval to once every two weeks or once per month.

Halozyme gets $40 million up-front, and a possible $160 million for each target, dependent on milestones, plus “mid-single digit” royalties.

Alexion R&D head John Orloff said: “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.”

Alexion is Halozyme’s eighth collaborator for the Enhanze technology, and the third of 2017.