Monash study shows subcutaneous delivery with hyaluronidase may boost effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy

L-R: Professor Chris Porter, Dr Orlagh Feeney, Dr Gracia Gracia

28 January 2026

Monash University researchers alongside key partner Halozyme Therapeutics have reported findings in support of shifting the way anti-cancer immunotherapy is administered from intravenous administration to subcutaneous administration in combination with recombinant hyaluronidase. This approach makes it less complex and painful for the patient, and may improve the treatment outcome for some medicines.

The study published in Cancer Immunology Research, addresses a current challenge that is that monoclonal antibody (mAb) immunotherapies typically require high doses/volumes to be effective and as a result are infused intravenously. In contrast, subcutaneous administration, where an injection is given under the skin, is an increasingly patient-preferred alternative as it is more convenient and less painful. However, this method is often not possible due to the high volume required to be administered.

To counter this, Halozyme Therapeutics developed a recombinant version of an enzyme called hyaluronidase. When co-administered in a subcutaneous injection, hyaluronidase transiently but almost immediately, breaks down one of the structural components of the space below the skin (hyaluronan) that restricts the subcutaneous injection of large volumes, thereby making an intravenous to subcutaneous transition possible.

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