Genzyme Open Day to Celebrate Expansion at Oxford Site

Date: October 16, 2007

New Facilities Officially Opened by Andrew Smith MP for Oxford East

Genzyme today announced the official opening of its expanded facilities at the Oxford Business Park by Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East, during an Open Day attended by the local business community, healthcare professionals and patient groups. The new facilities reflect the continued growth of Genzyme in the UK where the Company supplies innovative products for the management of chronically debilitating diseases including genetic disorders, renal disease and thyroid cancer.

Speaking during the Open Day, Paul Drohan, Vice President and General Manager of Genzyme UK & Ireland, said: “Genzyme first opened its office in Oxford in 2001 to support the supply of its breakthrough products for rare genetic disorders. At that time there were only 15 employees. Since then, both globally and locally, the Company has expanded enormously. We now employ 80 people here in Oxford and expect that to grow to more than 100 next year. In the UK as a whole, Genzyme employs more than 500 people making us a significant presence in the country’s biotechnology industry and an important provider of medicines that make a real difference to patients’ lives.

“The opportunity to work closely with the world class academic, medical and business communities in Oxford makes it an ideal location for a company like Genzyme and the fact that we have now more than tripled our office space since we arrived in 2001 means we are looking to be here for years to come.”

More than 70 people attended the Open Day including Dr Jon Rees, Network Director of Oxfordshire Bioscience Network, Professor Alastair Buchan, Neurologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and Alice Gosling, Director of Fundraising at Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals. Earlier this year, seven Genzyme staff raised money for the Oxford Children’s Hospital Campaign after taking part in a 65 mile sponsored trek and Genzyme continues to support that charity and others.

Genzyme’s Oxford business comprises Genzyme Therapeutics and Genzyme Biosurgery. Genzyme Therapeutics concentrates on the supply of products for the management of diseases including rare genetic disorders, renal disease and thyroid cancer.

Genzyme Biosurgery concentrates on products to reduce the time and complications of surgery, shorten recovery periods and improve patient outcomes. The primary focus is in the orthopaedic arena including products for tissue protection and tissue supplementation.

In addition to its Oxford offices, Genzyme has a major pharmaceutical manufacturing operation at Haverhill on the Cambridgeshire/Suffolk border and an R&D facility in Cambridge that conducts research into new treatments for cancer, kidney diseases and immune-mediated diseases and manages a range of clinical trials. Genzyme Diagnostics in Kent is responsible for developing, manufacturing and marketing Genzyme’s range of diagnostic products.

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 9,500 employees in locations spanning the globe and 2006 revenues of $3.2 billion. In 2007, Genzyme was chosen to receive the National Medal of Technology, the highest honor awarded by the President of the United States for technological innovation. In 2006 and 2007, Genzyme was selected by FORTUNE as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work for” in the United States.

With many established products and services helping patients in nearly 90 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 diagnostic testing. Genzyme's commitment to innovation continues today with a substantial development program focused on these fields, as well as immune disease, infectious disease, and other areas of unmet medical need.

The UK has been pivotal in Genzyme’s growth beginning in 1981 with the acquisition of a fermentation facility shortly after the Company was founded in Boston, USA. Since then, its UK operations have grown in size and scope, and Genzyme is now employs approximately 500 people in the UK. Genzyme UK has four sites: two manufacturing facilities in Haverhill and Kent, an R&D centre in Cambridge and sales offices in Oxford.

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