ViroPharma Incorporated And Halozyme Therapeutics Inc Announce Positive Data Of Subcutaneous Cinryze

ViroPharma Incorporated and Halozyme Therapeutics Inc announced the presentation of positive data from ViroPharma's Phase 2 subcutaneous trial of Cinryze (C1 esterase inhibitor [human]) in combination with Halozyme's Enhanze technology, a drug delivery platform using Halozyme's recombinant human hyaluronidase enzyme (rHuPH20), in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare, debilitating and potentially fatal genetic disease. The presentation occurred as part of the late-breaker session at the 2012 annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), held March 2 to 6, 2012 in Orlando, Fla. According to the presenters, these data demonstrate that subcutaneous co-administration of Cinryze with rHuPH20 was easy to administer, well tolerated and resulted in sustained physiologically relevant C1 INH functional concentrations. The presenters concluded that this combination administered subcutaneously as a single injection will be further evaluated for the prevention of HAE attacks. Halozyme's Enhanze technology, a drug delivery platform using recombinant human hyaluronidase enzyme (rHuPH20) facilitates the absorption and dispersion of drugs or fluids that are injected under the skin. Recombinant HuPH20 transiently generates channels in subcutaneous tissues to increase the absorption and spread of injected drugs.