Genzyme

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General Information
Henri A. Termeer (President 1983; CEO 1985; Chairman 1988) ||
 * ~ Company Name || Genzyme ||
 * ~ Year founded || 1981 ||
 * ~ Headquarters || Cambridge, Massachusetts (US) ||
 * ~ Number of Locations || 84 in 43 countries ||
 * ~ Key People || Henry Blair & Sheridan Snyder (Founders)
 * ~ Revenue || $ 4,5 billion (2009) ||
 * ~ Employees || more than 12 000 ||
 * ~ website || [] ||

Genzyme is one of the world´s leading biotecnologies company. Initially, Genzyme focused on producing new drugs that would cure rare genetic diseases that were cause by an enzyme dificiency. These drugs are designated "orphan drugs", refers to a product that treats a rare disease. Over the years, Genzyme has been making an effort to develop and apply the most advances tecnologies in medical areas. Nowadays, Genzyme focuses on several areas:
 * Genetic diseases
 * Cardiometabolic & Renal
 * Oncology
 * Biosurgery
 * Transplant
 * Immune diseases
 * Diagnost testing

Genzyme owns more than 100 patents that cover an array of tecnologies, methodologies and devices.

History

 * **1981 -** Genzyme founded in June 8th.
 * **1983** - Iniates Cystic fibrosis rearch program.
 * **1984** - Ceredase (alglucerase injection) clinical trials initiated. Cerezyme´s (imiglucerase injection) studies begins.
 * **1985** - Ceredase is designated an orphan drug by FDA
 * **1986** - Genzyme becomes a public company.
 * **1990** - The first experimental gene therapy treatment is performed successfully on a child suffering from a immune disorder.
 * **1994** - FDA grants markting approval of cerezyme.
 * **1996** - Begins a gene therapy program to treat heart disease.
 * **1997** - Iniates cancer research. The Company forms a joine venture with Geltex to develop Renagel (sevelamer) for kidney dialysis patient.
 * **1998** - Forms a join venture with BioMarin Pharmaceutical to develop and comercialize Aldurazyme for the treatment of mucopolysalcharidosis I (MPSI).
 * **2001** - Begins developing myozyme for treatment os Pompe disease.
 * **2003** - FDA approves fabrazyme.
 * **2004** - Obtains a leading array of oncology diagnostics.
 * **2005** - Launches clolar, a product for leukemia.
 * **2007** - Genzyme is awarded U.S. National Medal of Technology.

Top Products
ß-glucocerebrosidase, produced by recombinant DNA technology. **Key Pipeline Products**
 * **Cerezyme ® ** - a second-generation recombinant product used to treat Gaucher disease. This drug is an analogue of human enzyme
 * **Sevelamer** - a drug used for the control of serum phosphorus level in patients with chronic kidney disease.
 * **Fabrazyme ® ** - the first treatment for people suffering from fabry disease. This drug is intended to replace a missing enzyme called alpha-galactosidase.
 * **Alemtuzumab** - so far this drug has shown good clinical results for treatment of multiple sclerosis. Recently its completed phase 2 trial; these studies demonstrated durable reductions in relapse rate and sustained accumulation of disability.
 * **Mipomersen** - a possible cholestrol-reducing drug.
 * **Genz-112638** - a new oral drug for therapy of Gaucher disease. It could replace Cerezyme that is given through intravenous infusions.



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