Genzyme
The Genzyme Corporation is a biotechnology company from the United States with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After a hostile takeover, it is since 2011 a wholly owned subsidiary of the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi. Genzyme specializes in enzyme medication and employed in the financial year 2009 12.000 people worldwide and generated sales of 4.5 billion U.S. dollars.
History
On June 8, 1981, Genzyme was founded as a so-called start-up of Sheridan Snyder and Henry Blair. Using venture capital took over Genzyme in the same year, the British company Whatman Biochemicals Ltd.. , Whose focus was on the generation of diagnostic products.
In 1982, the Company acquired the British manufacturer of industrial fine chemicals and reagents Koch Light Laboratories for the product line Genzyme Fine Chemicals, which was almost four years later übernannt in Genzyme Pharmaceuticals.
1983 Henri Termeer moved from the U.S. pharmaceutical company Baxter International to Genzyme and took over the position of President. Two years later he was appointed Chief Executive Officer.
In 1986, the listing on the stock exchange and the transition related to a corporation follows. On April 18, 1989, Genzyme announced the merger announced in April 1981 with the established U.S. companies Integrated Genetics Incorporated.
2002 Genzyme acquired the company Pharming N.V. from Belgium.
In 2003 it was in the Boston Business Journal with the title "Company of the Year" and winner of the 2006 Fortune as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work ". 2009, Genzyme was named for the third time by the Science Magazine's Top Employer 2009.
29 August 2010 it was announced that the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi (then under the name of Sanofi- Aventis under the corporate name ) wanted to take over the company for 18.5 billion U.S. dollars. After the initial takeover offer from 69 USD to 74 USD per share in cash ( equivalent to about 20.1 billion USD) was raised later plus additional payments upon the achievement of certain goals, Genzyme and Sanofi announced on 15 February 2011 their agreement in principle known to a takeover. The acquisition was completed in early Q2 2011.
Genzyme in Germany
Since the early nineties, the U.S. company Genzyme is active in Germany. In 2002, Genzyme Germany has established at its present location in Neu- Isenburg near Frankfurt am Main. The company has developed into a company with more than 170 employees today / inside. The focus is primarily on marketing and sales activities.
Drugs
The divisions of Genzyme divided into the following departments:
- Lysosomal storage diseases
- Malignant thyroid disease
- Kidney and cardiovascular disorders
- Transplantation medicine and oncology
- Orthopedic and surgical applications
Among the drugs from Genzyme include sevelamer among others (trade name: Renagel ® / Renvela ®) for the treatment of dialysis patients with hyperphosphatemia. In enzyme replacement therapy Cerezyme ® to be used for the treatment of Gaucher disease and Fabrazyme ® for the treatment of patients with Fabry disease. Both are Lysosomal Storage Diseases. For the treatment of hypercholesterolemia is the product colesevelam (trade name Cholestagel ® ) are available.
In the development stage Tolevamer is for the treatment of antibiotic -associated colitis. Campath ( alemtuzumab ) is already approved to treat a form of non -Hodgkin 's lymphoma ( B -CLL ), currently running a study for use in multiple sclerosis. In the latter, there is a collaboration with Bayer Schering Pharma.