Facility Expected to be Among First Manufacturing Sites in France To Gain
High Environmental Quality Certification
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genzyme Corp.
(Nasdaq: GENZ) announced today that it will build a new biomanufacturing
plant in Lyon, France, for the production of Thymoglobulin(R)
(Anti-thymocyte Globulin [Rabbit]), a treatment used in transplantation.
The facility is needed to meet the anticipated long-term demand for
Thymoglobulin, both for its current use and in potential new indications.
The project represents one of a number of investments Genzyme is making in
its global manufacturing infrastructure to support the growth of existing
products and to prepare for the introduction of future products from its
rich late-stage pipeline.
In addition to the Lyon project, Genzyme is completing the development
of a new plant in Belgium for the production of monoclonal antibodies and
proteins and expanding other facilities, including its Allston Landing
protein manufacturing plant in Boston. Genzyme also recently received
regulatory approvals for a new filling and packaging facility at its
manufacturing site in Ireland, which has become the company's major
European center for the final production and distribution of a range of
products, including Thymoglobulin. Genzyme operates fifteen GMP
manufacturing plants around the world, seven of them in Europe.
Thymoglobulin's growth is being driven by its launch in new geographic
markets and by publications and clinical studies. Sales last year increased
17 percent compared with the previous year. The product is currently
approved in more than 50 countries for various indications, including the
treatment and the prevention of acute rejection of solid organ transplants.
Thymoglobulin has encouraging potential beyond the transplantation field,
and current studies are exploring its applicability to hematological
disorders and autoimmune diseases such as diabetes.
The new 140,000-square-foot facility in Lyon will replace Genzyme's
smaller plant in nearby Marcy l'Etoile and will provide more than twice the
manufacturing capacity. Approximately 165 people are employed at the
existing Thymoglobulin plant, and Genzyme expects that approximately 50 new
jobs will be created when the new facility operates at full capacity. The
total cost of the project is expected to be €105 million.
The new plant will be located within the Lyon-Gerland Biopole, an area
dedicated to biotechnology. The facility will be situated on a nine-acre
site, which will allow Genzyme to expand the plant if needed, as it has
done at a number of its other manufacturing locations. Construction is
expected to begin later this year, and regulatory approvals are expected
starting in 2010. Routine manufacturing at the site is expected to commence
in 2011.
"As with our other new facilities, we intend the Lyon plant to serve as
a highly visible expression of Genzyme's purpose, which is to innovate and
set new standards in both the products that we develop for patients and in
the way that we operate as a company," said Mark Bamforth, senior vice
president for Corporate Operations.
Consistent with Genzyme's commitment to innovation and sustainable
development, the facility will feature an attractive architectural design
and innovative "green" features that will create a healthy and comfortable
indoor environment for employees and reduce the plant's impact on the
external environment. Genzyme intends to develop the site using a High
Environmental Quality (HEQ) approach and to obtain HEQ certification by
meeting or exceeding standards set by the Center for Scientific and
Technical Building. The plant would be one of the first manufacturing sites
in France to gain HEQ certification, which is similar to the certification
conferred by the U.S. Green Building Council through its LEED(R)
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating
System(TM).
In the United States, Genzyme is currently completing the construction
of a new Science Center, which could become one of the first research
laboratories to earn certification under the LEED system. In addition, the
company's landmark world headquarters building, Genzyme Center, has earned
Platinum certification-the highest possible rating under the LEED system.
The Lyon facility will incorporate progressive design strategies
similar to those in Genzyme Center and the Science Center. The initial
design of the Lyon facility was completed by French architects Patriarche &
Co. and engineers SNC Lavalin, in collaboration with Genzyme.
"This investment sends a clear message of support for French research
and biotechnology and it illustrates Genzyme's culture of establishing
strong partnerships in the regions where we operate," said Frederic Turner,
Genzyme's senior vice president and general manager for France and North
Africa.
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 9,000 employees in locations
spanning the globe and 2006 revenues of $3.2 billion. Genzyme has been
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.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements about: plans for Genzyme's new manufacturing facilities in Lyon,
including the anticipated timing of the opening of the facility and
expected regulatory approvals, the planned focus of work to be conducted at
the facility, expected manufacturing capacity increases and estimated
costs, estimated workforce, and the expected benefits that will be derived
from establishing the facility; plans for Genzyme's facilities in Belgium
and U.S., including Allston Landing and the Science Center, and anticipated
timing thereof; anticipated ability to meet demand for Thymoglobulin; and
anticipated growth of the market for Thymoglobulin. These statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements.
These risks and uncertainties include, among others: ability to obtain any
governmental or other required approvals to implement Genzyme's plans for
the Lyon facility, and the timing thereof; the ability to attract and
retain qualified personnel to work at the Lyon facility; the competitive
environment for Genzyme's products and programs; the accuracy of Genzyme's
information about the transplant patient population; Genzyme's ability to
manufacture Thymoglobulin in a timely and cost effective manner; and the
risks and uncertainties described in reports filed by Genzyme with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation the
factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in Genzyme's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2007. We caution
investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements
contained in this press release. These statements speak only as of the date
of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise
the statements.
Genzyme(R) and Thymoglobulin(R) are registered trademarks of Genzyme
Corporation. All rights reserved.
Genzyme's press releases and other company information are available at
http://www.genzyme.com and by calling Genzyme's investor information line
at 1-800-905-4369 within the United States or 1-703-797-1866 outside the
United States.
Media Contact:
Bo Piela
(617) 768-6579
Investor Contact:
Sally Curley
(617) 768-6140
SOURCE Genzyme Corp.
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Related links:
http://www.genzyme.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/104284.html/
CONTACT:
Media, Bo Piela, +1-617-768-6579, or
Investor, Sally Curley, +1-617-768-6140, both of Genzyme Corp.
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