ERYTECH Pharma and Genzyme Corporation sign collaborative research agreement in rare diseases
Lyon (France) – October 12th, 2010
ERYtech Pharma is pleased to announce it has signed a collaborative research agreement with Genzyme Corporation to explore the feasibility of developing a novel therapeutic enzyme formulation using ERYtech’s proprietary technology.
Both companies will collaborate over the next 15 months to perform feasibility studies with encapsulating the enzyme and testing the new formulation in preclinical studies. Genzyme has an option to enter into a broader licensing agreement for development and commercialization of this product. Other terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are pleased to work with ERYtech Pharma. Their technology is uniquely suited to deliver therapeutic enzymes that could benefit patients with a number of genetic diseases” said Seng Cheng, Genzyme Vice President, Genetic Diseases Science.
“We are very happy to have commenced this collaboration. Genzyme is a world leader at developing treatments for rare genetic diseases,” said Yann Godfrin, CEO and CSO of ERYtech Pharma. “They will bring us tremendous expertise in this field. We hope this collaboration will provide an opportunity to improve the lives of patients with this enzyme deficiency. It will also be a strong demonstration of the utility of our technology for other therapeutic enzymes and disease indications such as chronic metabolic diseases. This collaboration complements very well other preexisting R&D agreements and demonstrates our scientific leadership to advance our technologic platform.”
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 12,000 employees in locations spanning the globe and 2009 revenues of $4.5 billion. With many established products and services helping patients in approximately 100 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 immune disease. Genzyme’s commitment to innovation continues today with a substantial development program focused on these fields, as well as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and other areas of unmet medical need.
About ERYtech Pharma
ERYtech Pharma (Lyon, Philadelphia) is a specialty pharma company developing innovative therapeutic solutions based on its proprietary technology and expertise in the physiological properties of erythrocytes. The company addresses serious pathologies, orphan indications or sub-populations of patients, particularly in the fields of haematology, cancer and metabolic diseases.
ERYtech Pharma : Pierre-Olivier Goineau
60, Av Rockefeller – Bâtiment Adénine 69008 – Lyon – France
Tel : + 33 (0)4 78 74 44 38
contact@erytech.com
ERYtech Pharma US Office :
3711 Market Street, 19104 Philadelphia PA