Introduction

Hyaluronidase is a key enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of hyaluronic acid (HA), a major component of the extracellular matrix. By temporarily reducing HA viscosity, hyaluronidase enhances the permeability of tissues, facilitating drug diffusion and absorption.

Among various enzyme sources, recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) has emerged as the preferred choice for subcutaneous drug delivery, aesthetic medicine, and assisted reproduction.

From Animal-Derived to Recombinant: Evolution of Hyaluronidase

Animal-Derived Hyaluronidase

Traditionally, hyaluronidase was extracted from animal tissues such as bovine or ovine testes. However, this approach often results in batch variability and carries risks of immunogenicity, allergic reactions, and zoonotic contamination, making it less ideal for modern pharmaceutical formulations.

Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase (rHuPH20)

The human genome encodes six types of hyaluronidases — HYAL1, HYAL2, HYAL3, HYAL4, HYALP1, and PH20.

Among them, PH20 (also known as rHuPH20) is the only isoenzyme active under neutral physiological pH (5–7), making it the most biologically relevant and clinically applicable variant.

rHuPH20’s ability to facilitate large-volume subcutaneous administration has positioned it as a cornerstone in next-generation drug delivery systems.

Hzymes' recombinant hyaluronidase is produced using recombinant DNA technology, with recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. It is manufactured with a high-purity preparation process and stringent quality control, resulting in higher purity, superior biological activity, lower endotoxin levels, tighter batch-to-batch consistency, and is free from animal-derived components and exogenous viral contamination.

Applications of Hyaluronidase

1.      Subcutaneous Injection

Among FDA-approved administration routes for marketed antibody drugs, subcutaneous injection is the second most common method after intravenous infusion.

Figure 1. Statistics on administration routes of FDA-approved drugs

Currently, there are four approved antibody drug products and one approved immunoglobulin product.

Table 1. Marketed antibody drugs containing hyaluronidase worldwide [2]

The mechanism of action of recombinant hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) involves locally depolymerizing hyaluronic acid (HA) in the subcutaneous space, facilitating rapid drug dispersion and temporarily removing the barrier to large-volume subcutaneous administration.

Figure 2. Mechanism of action of hyaluronidase [1]

2.      Immunotherapy

3.      Aesthetic Medicine

Hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) is commonly used to treat complications following hyaluronic acid injection procedures.

Figure 4. Illustration of facial injection with hyaluronidase [3]

4.      Assisted Reproduction

Overview

Data

In Vivo Bioactivity

Subcutaneous injection of varying doses of Hzymes hyaluronidase showed high in vivo bioactivity across all tested activity units, with different diffusion effects observed 30 minutes after injection.

Comparative studies of recombinant hyaluronidase at different doses showed that Hzymes' hyaluronidase demonstrated superior in vivo diffusion performance 30 minutes post-injection compared to foreign brand H.

Product Stability

Hzymes hyaluronidase powder and solution exhibit high thermal stability.

Hzymes hyaluronidase powder and solution remain stable even after multiple freeze-thaw cycles.

Conclusion

As the demand for safer and more efficient biopharmaceutical raw materials grows, Hzymes recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) sets a new benchmark in enzyme innovation.

Engineered for purity, stability, and performance, Hzymes rHuPH20 empowers breakthroughs across drug delivery, aesthetic medicine, and life science research.

Through its CHO-based recombinant technology and rigorous quality control, Hzymes continues to advance enzyme technology for a safer and more effective medical future.