CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genzyme Corp. (Nasdaq:GENZ - News) today marked the grand opening of its new Science Center in Framingham, Mass. The facility serves as a central site for early stage research, where scientists are utilizing the most advanced technologies available to discover novel new treatments for devastating diseases such as Parkinson’s, cancer, and heart disease.
The company also announced that the Science Center has received a Gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™. It is one of only 10 laboratories to achieve this high rating.
“Genzyme exists to innovate, and the Science Center reflects this purpose,” stated Henri A. Termeer, Genzyme’s chairman and chief executive officer. “The work done at this facility will ensure that we can continue to bring forward therapies to significantly improve patients’ lives and will help support the company’s long-term growth. I am so proud of our scientists who discover and make possible life-saving medicines.”
Researchers at the Science Center focus on a variety of medical areas including genetic diseases, cancer, immune diseases, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, endocrinology and neurological disorders. In their work to develop new treatments, they utilize a range of technologies, such as proteins, antibodies, cell therapy and gene therapy.
Genzyme’s core R&D operations are located in Framingham. Genzyme also has an R&D site in Waltham, Mass., for polymer and small molecule research and a facility in Cambridge, U.K., focused on monoclonal antibody research.
Science Center Features
The Science Center incorporates environmentally responsible and employee-friendly design strategies similar to those in the company’s landmark headquarters, Genzyme Center. Offices and labs surround the 180,000-square-foot building’s six-story central atrium and are connected by open meeting spaces to foster collaboration. At capacity, approximately 350 employees will occupy the Science Center, which has direct views of the outdoors for most employees.
The building’s green features include a sophisticated heating and cooling system, high-efficiency fume hoods for researchers, and low-flow water fixtures. The extensive use of glass reduces electricity needs and contributes to a pleasant working environment by allowing a large amount of natural light inside. It is estimated that the Science Center uses 26 percent less energy and 40 percent less water than a comparable conventional building.
The architect for the project was ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge Inc., the engineer was Bard, Rao & Athanas Consulting Engineers Inc. and the contractor was Bovis Lend Lease LMB Inc. The total cost of the building was $125 million.
Dating back to the 1989 merger with Integrated Genetics Inc., Genzyme’s presence in Framingham now represents the company’s largest concentration of employees worldwide. With approximately 2,000 employees located in 14 buildings on the campus, Genzyme occupies more than 1 million square feet of space.
About Genzyme’s Global Expansion
The Science Center is one component of an ongoing global expansion of the company’s R&D and manufacturing infrastructure. Major projects include the following:
* In Framingham, construction is underway on a new, $250 million cell culture manufacturing facility. The 230,000-square-foot site is expected to be completed in 2011 and create approximately 300 new jobs. * A $150 million expansion of the company’s flagship cell-culture manufacturing facility at Allston, Mass. began last year. The project, which is focused on adding space for manufacturing support functions, is expected to be completed in 2009 and create approximately 90 new jobs. * Genzyme plans this week to celebrate a foundation stone laying at the site of a new manufacturing plant in Lyon, France, for the production of Thymoglobulin® (Anti-thymocyte Globulin [Rabbit]), a treatment used in transplantation. The facility is needed to meet the anticipated long-term demand for the product, both for its current use and in potential new indications. * In 2009, Genzyme plans to break ground on a major new R&D center in Beijing. This initiative is an important element in Genzyme’s commitment to establishing a long-term presence in China. * Genzyme recently completed a major expansion of its manufacturing facility in Geel, Belgium, to support the global growth of Myozyme® (alglucosidase alfa), the company’s treatment for Pompe disease. Regulatory approval of Myozyme production at the facility is expected during the first half of 2009. Genzyme is also planning to produce Campath® (alemtuzumab), its treatment for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, at the facility.
In addition, the company is completing manufacturing capacity expansions at its facilities in Haverhill, United Kingdom and Waterford, Ireland. In keeping with Genzyme’s commitment to social responsibility, all of the company’s expansions and new facilities worldwide are being built to meet high environmental standards.
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. Since 1981, the company has grown from a small start-up to a diversified enterprise with more than 11,000 employees in locations spanning the globe and 2007 revenues of $3.8 billion. In 2007, Genzyme was chosen to receive the National Medal of Technology, the highest honor awarded by the President of the United States for technological innovation.
With many established products and services helping patients in nearly 90 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 diagnostic testing. Genzyme’s commitment to innovation continues today with a substantial development program focused on these fields, as well as immune disease, infectious disease, and other areas of unmet medical need.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including without limitation, statements concerning the completion of a new manufacturing facility in Framingham, Mass. in 2011 and the number of new jobs expected to be generated by the facility; the completion of an expansion of the company’s Allston, Mass. manufacturing site in 2009 and the number of new jobs expected to be generated by that expansion; plans for a new manufacturing facility in Lyon, France for the production of Thymoglobulin; plans to break ground on a new R&D facility in Beijing in 2009; regulatory approval of Myozyme production at the company’s Geel, Belgium manufacturing facility in the first half of 2009; plans to produce Campath at the Geel, Belgium facility; and plans to build new facilities to high environmental standards. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those forecasted. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: Genzyme’s ability to obtain all required authorizations and permits to build the facilities; Genzyme’s ability to construct the facilities without delays resulting from customary design and construction risks; Genzyme’s ability to validate, set-up and commence operations at the facilities; Genzyme’s ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for manufacturing facilities, including the production of Myozyme at Geel, Belgium, and the timing of receipt of such approvals; Genzyme’s ability to construct new facilities to high environmental standards; and the risks and uncertainties described in Genzyme’s SEC reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including the factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in Genzyme’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2008. Genzyme cautions investors not to place substantial reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. These statements speak only as of today’s date and Genzyme undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements.
Genzyme®, Thymoglobulin®, Myozyme® and Campath® are registered trademarks of Genzyme Corporation. All rights reserved.
Genzyme’s press releases and other company information are available at www.genzyme.com and by calling Genzyme’s investor information line at 1-800-905-4369 within the United States or 1-678-999-4572 outside the United States.
Contact: Genzyme Corp. Media Contact: Erin Emlock, 617-768-6923 or Investor Contact: Patrick Flanigan, 617-768-6563
Source: Genzyme Corp.
