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> > >Genzyme to Commercialize and Distribute Biogen's AVONEX in Japan
PR Newswire, Wednesday, September 09, 1998 at 08:32
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Genzyme General (NASDAQ:GENZ)
today announced an agreement with Biogen (NASDAQ:BGEN) under which Genzyme
will commercialize and exclusively distribute AVONEX(R) (Interferon beta-1a)
in Japan, following regulatory approval. AVONEX is Biogen's treatment for
relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.
Under the agreement, Genzyme will be responsible for managing a clinical
development program for AVONEX and will work with the Japanese Ministry of
Health and Welfare to obtain registration and reimbursement approvals for the
product.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
AVONEX has rapidly become the leading treatment for multiple sclerosis,
with more than 44,000 patients currently on therapy worldwide. Biogen began
marketing AVONEX in the United States in May 1996, and in Europe in March
1997. Genzyme estimates that there are at least 5,000 multiple sclerosis
patients in Japan.
"This partnership is an exciting example of how two biotechnology
companies can combine individual strengths in order to improve the health of
patients," said Henri A. Termeer, chairman and chief executive officer of
Genzyme Corp. "We are proud to begin working with Biogen to introduce in
Japan such a highly regarded product that has helped so many patients around
the world. Genzyme has established strong relationships with the medical
community in Japan and with the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This
agreement with Biogen enables us to leverage the infrastructure we have been
building in Japan since we first opened an office there more than 10 years
ago."
Genzyme was the first biotechnology company to obtain a drug approval in
Japan without a partner, when its Ceredase(R) enzyme replacement therapy for
Gaucher disease was cleared for marketing in June 1996. Genzyme has also
obtained approval on its own in Japan for Seprafilm(TM) bioresorbable
membrane, which is used to reduce post-operative adhesion formation, and
Cerezyme(R), the recombinant form of Ceredase.
In addition, Genzyme successfully introduced Ceredase and Cerezyme into
the marketplace in Japan without a partner. The company co-markets Seprafilm
with Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., markets diagnostic and pharmaceutical products
through local distributors, and provides prenatal genetic testing services
through a joint venture with BML, a leading Japanese testing laboratory.
Genzyme General develops and markets therapeutic and surgical products and
diagnostic products and services. A division of the biotechnology company
Genzyme Corp., Genzyme General has its own common stock intended to reflect
its value and track its economic performance.
Biogen, Inc., headquartered in Cambridge, MA, is a biopharmaceutical
company principally engaged in discovering and developing drugs for human
healthcare through genetic engineering. The company's revenues are generated
from worldwide sales of AVONEX(R) (Interferon beta-1a) for treatment of
relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, and from worldwide sales by licensees
of a number of products, including alpha interferon, hepatitis B vaccines and
diagnostic products. Biogen's research and development activities are focused
on novel products for multiple sclerosis, inflammatory, respiratory, kidney
and cardiovascular diseases and in developmental biology and gene therapy.
This press release contains forward looking information based on an
assumption of regulatory approval of AVONEX in Japan and current management
estimates of the number of patients with multiple sclerosis in Japan. Results
may differ materially depending on the actual content of decisions of the
Ministry of Health and Welfare and the accuracy of Genzyme's information about
the multiple sclerosis patient population in Japan.
Genzyme's releases are available at genzyme.com and on the
company's fax-on-demand service at 1-800-436-1443 in the U.S. or
1-201-521-1080 elsewhere.
SOURCE Genzyme General
-0- 09/09/98
/CONTACT: media, Bo Piela, 617-252-7785, or investor, Elliott Hillback,
617-252-7842, of Genzyme General/ < < <
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