Bioenvision shareholders approve acquisition by Genzyme

Bioenvision shares have now ceased trading and the company will be delisted from Nasdaq.

In total, 56% of Bioenvision’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock and preferred stock, voting together as a single class on an as converted basis, supported the merger. This represents approximately 67% of the total shares voted.

The acquisition will give Genzyme control over clofarabine, a leukemia treatment that the companies are developing together. Clofarabine is branded as Clolar in the US and Canada, where it is marketed by Genzyme for relapsed and refractory pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia patients. The companies have been developing clofarabine for significantly larger indications, including use as a first-line therapy for the treatment of adult acute myeloid leukemia.

Mark Enyedy, president of Genzyme oncology, a business unit of Genzyme, said: “We are very pleased that Bioenvision shareholders voted to support this merger. We are deeply committed to furthering the clinical development of clofarabine and making it available on a global basis so that patients around the world with these very difficult forms of cancer will have access to the therapy. The successful completion of this acquisition creates the platform on which we will continue to build an international commercial presence for our oncology business.”