Genzyme expands UK presence
pharmafile | October 19, 2007 | News story | |Â Â Â
Genzyme has opened its expanded UK headquarters in Oxford, underlining its rapid growth in the market.
Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East, officially opened the expanded facilities at an Open Day attended by the local business community, healthcare professionals and patient groups.
The new facilities reflect the continued growth in the UK of Genzyme, which markets a number of highly specialised products for chronically debilitating diseases including genetic disorders, renal disease and thyroid cancer.
Speaking during the Open Day, Paul Drohan, general manager of Genzyme UK & Ireland, said: "Genzyme first opened its office in Oxford in 2001 to support the supply of its breakthrough products for rare genetic disorders. At that time there were only 15 employees.
"Since then, both globally and locally, the company has expanded enormously. We now employ 80 people here in Oxford and expect that to grow to more than 100 next year."
Genzyme employs more than 500 people in the UK making it a significant presence in the country's biotechnology industry.
More than 70 people attended the Open Day including Dr Jon Rees, Network Director of Oxfordshire Bioscience Network, Professor Alastair Buchan, Neurologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital, and Alice Gosling, Director of Fundraising at Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals. Earlier this year, seven Genzyme staff raised money for the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign after taking part in a 65 mile sponsored trek and Genzyme continues to support that charity and others.
Genzyme's Oxford business comprises Genzyme Therapeutics and Genzyme Biosurgery. Genzyme Therapeutics concentrates on the supply of products for the management of diseases including rare genetic disorders, renal disease and thyroid cancer.
Genzyme Biosurgery concentrates on products to reduce the time and complications of surgery, shorten recovery periods and improve patient outcomes. The primary focus is in the orthopaedic arena including products for tissue protection and tissue supplementation.
Genzyme also has a major manufacturing operation at Haverhill on the Cambridgeshire/Suffolk border and an R&D facility in Cambridge that conducts research into new treatments for cancer, kidney diseases and immune-mediated diseases and manages a range of clinical trials. Genzyme Diagnostics in Kent is responsible for developing, manufacturing and marketing Genzymes range of diagnostic products.
The UK has played a key role in Genzyme's growth, beginning in 1981 with the acquisition of a fermentation facility shortly after the company was founded in Boston, USA.
