Genzyme Provides Update On Cerezyme, Fabrazyme Supply

Genzyme is now approximately half-way through the anticipated shortage period for Cerezyme and Fabrazyme. The restart of the Allston landing manufacturing facility is complete, and if production continues to proceed as planned, Genzyme expects that it can begin meeting anticipated patient demand for both products during the first quarter of 2010.

The company said that all six bioreactors at the Allston plant are fully operational and have reached the point in their production cycles when their anticipated output and the timing of product release can be predicted with more certainty.

The company anticipates that newly produced Cerezyme will be available for shipment beginning in November and December as planned.

The first shipment of newly produced Fabrazyme are now expected to occur in mid-December, and the volume of finished product initially available for release will be lower than anticipated.

Henri Termeer, chairman and CEO of Genzyme, said: “We have reached a point in this process where we can anticipate with greater confidence the timing and amount of the first finished product to be shipped from the Allston plant. We will continue to work with all stakeholders to prepare for the release of this material so that it can reach patients as quickly as possible. I want to express my deep appreciation to the Gaucher and Fabry communities for their support of the existing product conservation guidelines and for their anticipated collaboration in helping to manage the remaining limited product supply through the end of this year.”