The present invention relates to the isolation, purification and characterization of a hyaluronidase which derives from the tropical leech Hirudinaria manillensis. Therefore, according to this invention, the enzyme was called "manillase". The invention is furthermore concerned with the recombinant method of production of manillase which includes the disclosure of DNA and amino acid sequences as well as of expression vectors and host systems. Finally, the invention relates to the use of manillase for therapeutic purposes, for example, for the treatment of myocardial diseases, thrombotic events and tumors.