The company will initiate a phase I study designed to evaluate a single intravesical administration of Chemophase in combination with mitomycin, an established chemotherapy treatment. The drug is designed to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy by sensitizing tumors to its effects.
Dr Jonathan Lim, Halozyme’s chairman and CEO said: “Co-delivery of Chemophase may increase the penetration of mitomycin throughout the tumor and reach residual tumor cells that otherwise might develop into recurrent tumors.”
The company hopes to be able to bring the therapeutic onto the market towards the end of the year.
According to data from the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, American Urological Association, there are over 180,000 new or recurrent cases of superficial bladder cancer in the US every year.