CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genzyme Corporation
(Nasdaq: GENZ) announced today that scientists have again named the company
a top employer in a survey ranking the reputations of biotechnology and
pharmaceutical companies. Genzyme placed 6th among the 331 global companies
included in the survey and is the highest ranked company in New England.
The survey, which was commissioned by the journal, Science, and the
American Association for the Advancement of Science, identifies the top 20
companies with the best reputations as employers. More than 650 Science
readers participated in the survey.
"To be regarded consistently as one of the top life science employers
is a great honor," said Alan Smith, Ph.D., Genzyme's chief scientific
officer. "Genzyme has more products in development today than we've had at
any other point in our history. This is due in very large part to the work
of our exceptional scientists, and they will continue to play a key role in
Genzyme's growth and sustainability in the future."
The survey was conducted from May 2 to June 4, 2006. Science
subscribers were invited to respond to the survey, and asked to submit the
names of companies they considered the best, average and worst employers.
The respondents then rated those companies on 42 different attributes
from seven categories. The categories included corporate image, leadership
and direction, financial prowess, work culture/environment, work/life
balance, academics and collegial exchange, and compensation and benefits.
More than 30 percent of the respondents came from outside the United
States, primarily Western Europe.
Genzyme's highest ratings included those for two attributes that
respondents identified as being among the most important when evaluating an
employer: having a clear vision for the future, and being an innovative
leader in the industry. Genzyme received the 4th highest ranking for having
a clear vision, and tied for 5th place for being an innovative leader.
"We are pleased to know that our reputation among scientists is
strong," said Zoltan Csimma, Genzyme's chief human resources officer. "At
Genzyme, we place a high priority on attracting and retaining talented
people in all areas of the company, because we believe that each individual
has the power to make a difference."
Scientists working at Genzyme are developing new and next-generation
therapies in several areas of medicine using a wide range of technologies.
The company is bringing new treatments to patients with genetic diseases,
kidney disease, cancer, osteoarthritis, and transplant and immune diseases.
The company is also a leader in the development of diagnostic and genetic
tests.
More than 1,800 people are employed in research and development
positions at Genzyme. Genzyme's primary research and development facilities
are in Massachusetts, where the company is currently expanding its
presence. Genzyme is building a new, 177,000-square-foot facility in
Framingham to house early stage scientific research and is expanding an
existing polymer and small-molecule research facility in Waltham. Genzyme
last year opened its first discovery research facility outside the United
States in Cambridge, U.K.
The survey results appear in a special supplement to the October 20
issue of Science. To read the full survey, please visit:
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/more_topics/busines
s_o ffice_supplements
For information about other recognition Genzyme has received, please
visit: http://www.genzyme.com/corp/structure/awards_genz.asp
For information about careers at Genzyme, please visit:
http://www.genzyme.com/careers
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. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Genzyme's
founding. Since 1981, the company has grown from a small start-up to a
diversified enterprise with more than 8,500 employees in locations spanning
the globe and 2005 revenues of $2.7 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 more
than 80 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 diseases, and diagnostic
testing. Genzyme's commitment to innovation continues today with a
substantial development program focused on these fields, as well as heart
disease and other areas of unmet medical need.
About AAAS
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the
world's largest general scientific society, and publisher of the journal,
Science (http://www.sciencemag.org). AAAS was founded in 1848, and includes
some 262 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million
individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed
general science journal in the world, with an estimated total readership of
one million. The non-profit AAAS (http://www.aaas.org) is open to all and
fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through
initiatives in science policy; international programs; science education;
and more.
Genzyme(R) is a registered trademark 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:
Erin Emlock
(617) 768-6923
SOURCE Genzyme Corporation
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.genzyme.com
http://www.sciencemag.org
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/113803.html/
CONTACT:
Erin Emlock of Genzyme, +1-617-768-6923
|
