Finvest
HALO Biotechnology · Drug delivery · Royalties · Profitable biotech · Thesis updated June 14, 2026

Royalty growth, with a lawsuit attached

01 Running thesis

Royalties still have runway

Halozyme is a picks-and-shovels biotech. It does not need to build every drug itself. It licenses delivery technology to larger drug companies, then collects fees, milestones, and royalties when those partners succeed.

The core bull case got stronger after Q1 2026. Royalty revenue rose 43% year over year, and management kept its 2026 and 2026 to 2028 outlook. It also said about 66% of projected royalties from the ten approved products are still expected between 2026 and 2032. That matters because a key bear worry is that today's royalty wave fades too soon.

Capital returns are now part of the story. Halozyme announced a $1 billion share repurchase authorization through the end of 2028 and expects to buy back at least $400 million of stock in 2026. That can lift per-share results if the core business keeps growing.

The bear case is real. Merck litigation could cost money, distract management, or end badly. Hypercon and Surf Bio could also fail to copy ENHANZE's economics. The first Hypercon Phase I starts are now expected in the first half of 2027, so investors still need proof that the newer platforms can become commercial royalty machines.

May 2026▲Q1 2026 reaffirmed the ENHANZE growth story. Royalty revenue grew 43% year over year, guidance was reaffirmed, and management framed about 66% of projected royalties from current launched products as still ahead from 2026 to 2032.
May 2026▲Halozyme announced a $1 billion share repurchase program through 2028, with at least $400 million expected in 2026. That adds a clearer capital return path to the thesis.
May 2026▲New GSK, Vertex, and Oruka agreements strengthened the multi-platform story. GSK adds the first potential ENHANZE use in antibody-drug conjugates, while Vertex and Oruka add Hypercon validation.
May 2026▼The first Hypercon Phase I starts are now expected in the first half of 2027. That is a small timing pushout and keeps proof of the new platform in the future.
Feb 2026▲The 2025 10-K and Q4 update marked Halozyme's move from a mostly ENHANZE story to a three-platform drug delivery company. The same update sharpened the Merck patent case as a key legal overhang.
Nov 2025▲CMS final guidance reduced the near-term IRA overhang for fixed-combination drugs. The Elektrofi acquisition added Hypercon, but also added integration and impairment risk.
02 Business model

Licensing shots, not selling drugs

ENHANZE is Halozyme's main product platform. It uses rHuPH20, an enzyme that temporarily opens space under the skin so large drug doses can be injected under the skin instead of through a long IV infusion. Partners pay upfront fees, development and sales milestones, buy bulk rHuPH20, and pay royalties on approved products.

The best part of the model is operating leverage. Royalties can grow as partners sell more of their drugs, while Halozyme does not carry the full cost of large global sales teams for those drugs. In Q1 2026, royalties were the biggest revenue stream and grew faster than total company revenue.

Product sales are the second stream. They include proprietary products like Hylenex and XYOSTED, bulk rHuPH20 sold to partners, and device-related product sales. This stream can jump around because partner ordering patterns can change from quarter to quarter.

Collaborative revenue is the lumpiest stream. It includes upfront fees and milestone payments tied to partner progress. New GSK, Vertex, and Oruka deals add promise, but the exact economics are still partly unknown. That is why the valuation case is good, not risk-free.

03 Product portfolio

What Halozyme owns

Growth engine

ENHANZE

The core drug delivery platform. It powers ten commercial partner products and remains the main source of royalty growth.

Cash cow

DARZALEX FASPRO and DARZALEX SC

Janssen's multiple myeloma franchise is Halozyme's largest disclosed royalty driver. DARZALEX royalties were $129.0 million in Q1 2026.

Growth engine

VYVGART Hytrulo

argenx's autoimmune drug is a fast-growing ENHANZE product. Its royalties grew 119% year over year in Q1 2026.

Steady

Phesgo

Roche's breast cancer product adds another large ENHANZE royalty stream. It continues to grow, though not as fast as VYVGART Hytrulo.

Option

Hypercon

Hypercon is a high-concentration drug delivery platform from the Elektrofi acquisition. Vertex and Oruka joined existing partners, but the first Phase I starts are now expected in the first half of 2027.

Option

Surf Bio

Surf Bio is another high-concentration platform. It extends the long-term platform story, but it still needs clearer clinical timing and its first development partner.

Steady

Hylenex and XYOSTED

These are Halozyme's own marketed products. They help diversify revenue, but the company page story is still mostly about partner royalties.

04 Business segments

Q1 revenue mix

Royalties64%growing fast
Product sales, net35%modest
Revenues under collaborative agreements1%flat

Mix is based on Q1 2026 revenue in the March 2026 10-Q. Royalties are the key stream, but product sales can move with partner order timing and collaborative revenue can be milestone-driven.

05 Risk factors

What could break the thesis

Merck patent case goes against Halozyme

High impact · Medium odds

Halozyme filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Merck in April 2025 over alleged use of MDASE technology in subcutaneous Keytruda development. A bad ruling could weaken the IP story, add legal costs, or reduce leverage in future deals.

We watchPTAB rulings and the Merck District Court schedule, filings, and any settlement language.

Partner sales slow down

High impact · Medium odds

Halozyme depends on partners such as Janssen, argenx, and Roche to sell the drugs that generate royalties. If DARZALEX SC, VYVGART Hytrulo, or Phesgo slow, Halozyme cannot fix that by hiring its own sales force for those products.

We watchQuarterly royalty growth, especially DARZALEX, VYVGART Hytrulo, Phesgo, and the newer launch group.

Hypercon does not scale into ENHANZE-like deals

Medium impact · Medium odds

Hypercon has respected partners, including Vertex and Oruka, but it is still early. The first Phase I starts are now guided for the first half of 2027, so commercial proof is years away.

We watchDisclosure of the two Hypercon Phase I assets, trial starts in the first half of 2027, and deal terms on future Hypercon partnerships.

A Hypercon target is returned

Medium impact · Medium odds

The Q1 2026 10-Q says one partner is evaluating the possible return of a target, with a decision expected by September 2026. If the target comes back without a similar replacement, Halozyme may need to assess acquired intangibles and goodwill from Elektrofi.

We watchAny September 2026 update on the target return and any impairment charge tied to Elektrofi assets.

Supply chain bottlenecks

Medium impact · Low odds

Halozyme relies on a limited number of third-party manufacturers for bulk rHuPH20 and other key components. If supply misses partner needs, product sales and partner launches could be delayed.

We watchManagement comments on bulk rHuPH20 capacity, partner ordering, and any disclosed manufacturing delays.

IRA policy changes after 2028

Medium impact · Low odds

CMS final guidance in 2025 reduced the near-term risk for fixed-combination drugs. The risk is not gone because CMS may revisit policy for 2029 and beyond, which could affect long-term royalty streams.

We watchCMS guidance for future Medicare price negotiation cycles, especially rules for fixed-combination drugs.
06 Quick answers

In one breath

What does Halozyme actually do?

Halozyme licenses drug delivery technology to other drug companies. Its main platform, ENHANZE, helps some medicines move from IV infusion to faster under-the-skin injection.

Why are royalties so important for HALO?

Royalties are Halozyme's largest and fastest-growing revenue stream. In Q1 2026, royalty revenue rose 43% year over year, led by partner products such as DARZALEX SC, VYVGART Hytrulo, and Phesgo.

What is the Merck lawsuit about?

Halozyme says Merck used its patented MDASE subcutaneous delivery technology in the development of subcutaneous Keytruda. The outcome of the PTAB process and District Court case is one of the most important risks to watch.

Is Halozyme only an ENHANZE company?

ENHANZE is still the main value driver. Halozyme is also building Hypercon and Surf Bio, two high-concentration delivery platforms, but those platforms still need clinical starts and commercial proof.