At a Glance
- Companies: Takeda; Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.
- Location: Osaka, Japan/Cambridge, Massachusetts (Takeda); San Diego, California (Halozyme)
- Deal value: Undisclosed upfront; development/commercial milestones; low‑mid single‑digit royalties
- Focus area: Subcutaneous formulation of vedolizumab (marketed as ENTYVIO®) for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
- Next steps: Advance ENHANZE‑enabled SC vedolizumab through development and regulatory approvals globally
What happened?
Takeda has entered a global collaboration and exclusive licence agreement with Halozyme Therapeutics to develop a subcutaneous (SC) formulation of vedolizumab using Halozyme’s ENHANZE® drug delivery technology. Vedolizumab, marketed as ENTYVIO®, is an approved biologic for moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and the partnership aims to offer greater treatment flexibility.
Why does it matter?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) prevalence is projected to exceed 10 million cases globally by 2032, with patients needing adaptable therapies that match evolving care needs. ENHANZE®, powered by recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20) enzyme, enables large‑volume SC administration by temporarily degrading hyaluronan in tissue, potentially reducing infusion times, clinic visits and treatment burden compared to intravenous delivery.
Who’s behind it?
Takeda leads in GI and inflammation, with ENTYVIO approved in 72 countries and a strong IBD franchise. Halozyme’s ENHANZE has supported 10 commercialised products across 100+ markets, touching over one million patients, with partners including Roche, Pfizer, Janssen and AbbVie.
How was it achieved?
Takeda gains exclusive rights to apply ENHANZE to vedolizumab, with Halozyme eligible for upfront payments, milestones and low‑mid single‑digit royalties on sales. The enzyme facilitates rapid dispersion and absorption of high volumes subcutaneously, mirroring successes in other biologics.
What’s next?
The partners will pursue formulation development, preclinical and clinical studies, and regulatory approvals worldwide, aiming to integrate SC vedolizumab into IBD treatment paradigms for improved patient experience. Takeda sees this as enhancing its GI portfolio amid rising IBD burden.
What are people saying?
Takeda’s Robert Hollowell, MD, Head of Global Product and Launch Strategy for GI/Inflammation, called it an “exciting opportunity” to offer flexible vedolizumab options addressing IBD’s unpredictability. Halozyme CEO Helen Torley highlighted ENHANZE’s role in helping patients “spend less time managing their therapy and more time living their lives”.