Merus and Halozyme have formed a global collaboration and license agreement to develop a subcutaneous (SC) formulation of petosemtamab, Merus's cancer therapy, using Halozyme's proprietary ENHANZE drug delivery technology. This collaboration aims to provide a more efficient and patient-friendly treatment experience for solid tumor cancers. 

 

“Petosemtamab continues to show encouraging clinical results across multiple solid tumors and could become a first- and best-in-class therapy for head and neck cancer and beyond,” said Peter Silverman, COO and General Counsel of Merus. “We are proud to collaborate with Halozyme and look forward to advancing subcutaneous administration for patients.”

 

Halozyme CEO Dr Helen Torley highlighted the potential benefits for patients and healthcare providers: “This partnership opens a new avenue for our ENHANZE technology to enhance treatment efficiency and improve the patient experience. Together with Merus, we aim to accelerate innovation in oncology care.”

 

Financial terms of the deal include an upfront payment from Merus to Halozyme, potential milestone payments tied to commercial and sales achievements, and royalties on net sales of petosemtamab formulated with ENHANZE, ranging from low to mid-single digits.

 

The collaboration reflects a growing trend in oncology toward subcutaneous therapies, which can simplify administration, reduce clinic visits, and improve patient convenience compared to traditional intravenous treatments. With promising early-stage data, petosemtamab could offer a new option for patients battling recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and other solid tumors.

 

As both companies combine Merus’ antibody expertise with Halozyme’s delivery platform, the partnership aims to speed development timelines and broaden patient access to innovative cancer therapies.