Huonslab files for patent on manufacturing method for hyaluronidase drug

The research subsidiary of biopharmaceutical firm Huons Global said it has filed for a patent on the manufacturing method of its human genetic recombinant hyaluronidase candidate.

Huonslab, a research subsidiary of biopharmaceutical firm Huons Global, registered for a patent on the manufacturing method of a human genetic recombinant hyaluronidase candidate with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the company said Tuesday.

The patent is related to the manufacturing process of Hydiffuze, which is used as a drug diffusion agent that directly decomposes hyaluronic acid in the subcutaneous tissue of the human body to help with pain and swelling. It is also used to convert intravenous injection drugs into subcutaneous injections.

The new patent is meaningful, according to Huonslab, because it is designed around the original drug, Hylenex, developed by San Diego-based biotech company Halozyme, using a new manufacturing process. The patent for Halozyme's primary technology, rHuPH20, expired in Korea and Europe in March of this year and is set to expire in the United States in September 2027.

Huonslab will file the patent sequentially in the United States, Europe, Australia, Japan, Central and Southern America and in China.

The company plans to apply for official approval with Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the human genetic recombinant hyaluronidase candidate candidate in June 2025.

"We will continuously improve on the development of drugs using our Hydiffuze platform," the company said.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]