# How a Special Enzyme Helps Deliver Immune Drugs Under the Skin > This patent describes a specific, modified human hyaluronidase enzyme that helps the body absorb immune globulin drugs when injected just under the skin, making treatments easier for patients. - **Patent:** US 10588983 - **Original title:** Soluble glycosaminoglycanases and methods of preparing and using soluble glycosaminoglycanases - **Owner:** Halozyme - **Granted:** 2020 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 7 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical, telecommunications ## What it does The patent claims a method for boosting a subject's immune system by injecting immune globulin (IG) and a special soluble hyaluronidase enzyme under the skin. This specific hyaluronidase is a "soluble neutral active human hyaluronidase glycoprotein" (sHASEGP) that works well at the body's neutral pH. It has at least one sugar molecule attached to an asparagine amino acid and is a shortened version of a larger natural enzyme, specifically containing amino acids 36-464 of SEQ ID NO: 1, but truncated at its C-terminus at specific points like amino acid 477 or 483. This enzyme helps the IG spread and absorb better. For example, a patient needing a large dose of immune globulin can receive it as a less painful subcutaneous injection instead of an intravenous infusion, thanks to this enzyme. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover administering hyaluronidase and immune globulin through methods other than subcutaneous injection (e.g., intravenous infusion). - Does not cover using this specific hyaluronidase to deliver therapeutic molecules other than immune globulin for immune system modulation. - Does not cover hyaluronidase enzymes that contain the complete, full-length amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. - Does not cover hyaluronidase enzymes that lack the specific asparagine-linked sugar moiety required by the claims. - Does not cover hyaluronidase polypeptides with C-terminal truncations outside the specified amino acid residues (e.g., 477-494 of SEQ ID NO: 1) or with less than 95% sequence identity to the claimed truncated forms. ## The clever bit The novelty lies in identifying and engineering a specific, truncated, and glycosylated human hyaluronidase that remains soluble and active at neutral pH, making it ideal for co-administration with other drugs to enhance their subcutaneous absorption. ## Real-world examples 1. Halozyme's ENHANZE drug delivery technology platform 2. Herceptin Hylecta (trastuzumab and hyaluronidase-zzxf) 3. Phesgo (pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and hyaluronidase-zzxf) 4. Darzalex Faspro (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) 5. Hyqvia (immune globulin infusion 10% with recombinant human hyaluronidase) ## Why it matters This technology is important because it makes it possible to deliver large volumes of drugs, like immune globulin, through a simple injection under the skin rather than a lengthy intravenous infusion. This significantly improves convenience and quality of life for patients who require regular treatments. Halozyme, the assignee, has built a platform around this type of enzyme to enable subcutaneous delivery for many different therapeutic areas. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How a Special Enzyme Helps Deliver Immune Drugs Under the Skin cover? This patent describes a specific, modified human hyaluronidase enzyme that helps the body absorb immune globulin drugs when injected just under the skin, making treatments easier for patients. ### Who owns patent US 10588983? Halozyme owns this patent, granted in 2020. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on February 23, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 10588983 cited by? This patent has been cited by 7 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This technology is important because it makes it possible to deliver large volumes of drugs, like immune globulin, through a simple injection under the skin rather than a lengthy intravenous infusion. This significantly improves convenience and quality of life for patients who require regular treatments. Halozyme, the assignee, has built a platform around this type of enzyme to enable subcutaneous delivery for many different therapeutic areas. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover administering hyaluronidase and immune globulin through methods other than subcutaneous injection (e.g., intravenous infusion). **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10588983/soluble-glycosaminoglycanases-and-methods-of-preparing-and-using-soluble-glycosa **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US10588983 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Scientists Create Human-Friendly Antibodies for Medicine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5585089/remicade-infliximab) — This patent describes a method for modifying mouse antibodies so human immune systems accept them as their own, allowing them to be used as powerful, long-lasting medical treatments. - [Making Hybrid Antibodies from Different Animals](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4816567/recombinant-antibody-production-in-cho-cells) — This patent describes how to create new, engineered antibodies by combining parts of antibodies from two different animal species, then growing them in a lab. - [How to Create Lab-Made Proteins That Stop Immune System Overreaction](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6458360/hpv-vaccine-gardasil) — A method for creating custom proteins that act as 'brakes' for the body's immune system to prevent damage from excessive inflammation. - [How to Build Smaller, Synthetic Antibody-Like Molecules for Medicine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5455030/immunotheraphy-using-single-chain-polypeptide-binding-molecules) — This patent describes a way to create small, single-chain proteins that mimic the binding power of full-sized antibodies to deliver medicine more effectively. - [How to Engineer Antibodies to Better Target and Destroy Disease](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10184000/libtayo-cemiplimab) — This patent describes a way to modify the tail end of an antibody so it binds more strongly to immune cells, helping the body fight off infections or cancer more effectively.