Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Genentech's Rituxan Hycela, a combination of rituximab and Halozyme's hyaluronidase human Enhanze technology, for subcutaneous injection in multiple blood cancer indications.

"We are pleased that Rituxan Hycela will now provide another treatment option for US patients," said Dr. Helen Torley, president and chief executive officer. "Rituxan Hycela has the potential to reduce the treatment burden and administration time, and is an option preferred by many patients."

Rituxan Hycela has been approved for patients with follicular lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and is expected to be available within one to two weeks. Including all approved indications, Roche reported total 2016 sales of rituximab in the United States of approximately $3.9 billion. Across all of its global collaboration and licensing agreements, Halozyme earns on average a mid-single-digit royalty on sales of products using the Enhanze technology.

Today's approval was preceded by an FDA Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee in March that voted 11 to 0 in favor of the benefit/risk profile for rituximab/human hyaluronidase subcutaneous (under the skin) injection for patients in the proposed indications of follicular lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Halozyme Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing novel oncology therapies that target the tumor microenvironment.