<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains financial information extracted from the Consolidated
Financial Statements of Genzyme Corporation and Subsidiaries and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY>   U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                         102,406
<SECURITIES>                                    51,259
<RECEIVABLES>                                  130,377
<ALLOWANCES>                                    12,100
<INVENTORY>                                    139,681
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               456,585
<PP&E>                                         496,727
<DEPRECIATION>                                 111,379
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,295,453
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          105,763
<BONDS>                                        170,276
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,015
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,011,035
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,295,453
<SALES>                                        529,927
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               608,841
<CGS>                                          206,028
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  253,317
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               314,444
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 2,835
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              12,667
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 25,729
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             13,629
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,629
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.01<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.98<F1>
<FN>
<F1>The earnings per share figures prepared on this schedule represent EPS data
for net income attributable to Genzyme General Division Common Stock. Genzyme
Corporation reports earnings based on its three tracking stocks ("GGD Stock"),
therefore consolidate earnings per share data is not applicable . For the year
ended December 31, 1997, Genzyme General has net income of $77,447 and net loss
per share of GGD Stock - basic and diluted of $0.01 and $0.98, respectively. Net
loss for Genzyme Tissue Repair for the year ended December 31, 1997 was $245,984
or $3.07 per share of GTR Stock - basic and diluted. Net loss for Genzyme
Molecular Oncology for the year ended December 31, 1997 was $19,578, or $5.01
per share of GMO Stock - basic and diluted.
</FN>