Genzyme UK HomeGenzyme Corporate HomeSearchContact UsGenzyme Websites
Company InfoOur Treatement AreasHealthcare Professionals
Genzyme

Corporate Info
Genzyme in the UK
Careers in the UK
News
UK News
All Genzyme News
European Events
Global Locations
Our Research
Patient Associations

Genzyme Issues Letters to U.S. Healthcare Providers

Date: November 13, 2009

Genzyme Corp. (Nasdaq: GENZ) announced today that it has issued letters to U.S. healthcare providers regarding its enzyme replacement products Cerezyme® (imiglucerase for injection), Fabrazyme® (agalsidase beta), Myozyme® (alglucosidase alfa), Aldurazyme® (laronidase), as well as Thyrogen® (thyrotropin alfa for injection), filled at its Allston Landing manufacturing facility. The letters remind providers of the U.S. product labeling recommendations advising both visual inspection of vials and in-line filtration of enzyme replacement products to address the potential presence of foreign particles.

The safety profile of these products remains unchanged. A review of the global safety database for these products has not identified any safety concerns to suggest that patients treated with Genzyme products have been exposed to foreign particles. However, a theoretical safety risk remains should a particle enter the bloodstream.

Genzyme’s quality control processes have detected foreign particles in these products at a rate of approximately 1 percent. The company’s rate has not increased over time.

The global rate of product returns from customers due to the observance of foreign particles is less than approximately 0.02 percent for these products. Genzyme remains committed to reducing the frequency of foreign particles in all of our products.

The healthcare provider letters are available on the company’s product websites.

About Genzyme

One of the world's leading biotechnology companies, Genzyme is dedicated to making a major positive impact on the lives of people with serious diseases. Since 1981, the company has grown from a small start-up to a diversified enterprise with more than 11,000 employees in locations spanning the globe and 2008 revenues of $4.6 billion.

With many established products and services helping patients in approximately 100 countries, Genzyme is a leader in the effort to develop and apply the most advanced technologies in the life sciences. The company's products and services are focused on rare inherited disorders, kidney disease, orthopaedics, cancer, transplant and immune disease, and diagnostic testing. Genzyme's commitment to innovation continues today with a substantial development program focused on these fields, as well as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and other areas of unmet medical need.

Genzyme®, Cerezyme®, Fabrazyme®, Myozyme®, Thyrogen® are registered trademarks of Genzyme Corporation or its subsidiaries. Aldurazyme® is a registered trademark of BioMarin/Genzyme LLC. All rights reserved.

Genzyme’s press releases and other company information are available at www.genzyme.com and by calling Genzyme’s investor information line at 1-800-905-4369 within the United States or 1-678-999-4572 outside the United States.




CONTACT INFORMATION:

Genzyme Therapeutics Ltd,
Genzyme Biosurgery

4620 Kingsgate
Cascade Way
Oxford Business Park South
Oxford
OX4 2SU
Tel: 01865 405200
Fax: 01865 774172

Genzyme Therapeutics Ltd
Genzyme Europe Research

310 Cambridge Science Park
Milton Road
Cambridge
CB4 0WG
Tel: 01223 394000
Fax: 01223 394190

Genzyme Ltd
Genzyme Diagnostics

50 Gibson Drive
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4AF
Tel: 01732 220022
Fax: 01732 220024

Genzyme Ltd
Haverhill Operations

12 Rookwood Way
Haverhill
Suffolk
CB9 8PU
Tel: 01440 703522
Fax: 01440 716269

Registered Office for Genzyme Therapeutics Ltd
4620 Kingsgate
Cascade Way
Oxford Business Park South
Oxford
OX4 2SU
Company Registration No. 4316333
Registered in England

Registered Office for Genzyme Ltd
37 Hollands Road
Haverhill
Suffolk
CB9 8PU
Company Registration No. 01556886 Registered in England

Terms and Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | © 2003-2010 Genzyme Corporation. All rights reserved.