Exhibit 99.1
CONTACTS:
For Genzyme For BioMarin
Carol Miceli (investors) Joshua Grass (investors)
(415) 761-8935 (415) 884-6777
Dan Quinn (media) Francesca DeVellis (media)
(617) 591-5849 Feinstein Kean Healthcare
(617) 761-6703
For Immediate Release
June 11, 2003
Genzyme, BioMarin Receive Marketing Approval for Aldurazyme
in European Union
Cambridge, Mass. and Novato, Ca., USA - Genzyme General (Nasdaq: GENZ) and
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq and Swiss SWX New Market: BMRN) today
announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for
Aldurazyme(R)(laronidase), the first specific treatment approved in the European
Union for patients with the genetic disease mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I).
Aldurazyme, administered once-weekly, has been approved in the 15 countries
of the European Union for long-term enzyme replacement therapy in patients with
a confirmed diagnosis of MPS I, to treat the non-neurological manifestations of
the disease.
"Aldurazyme has had a dramatic and positive impact on the lives of patients
who have received it through our clinical trials," said Ed Wraith, MD, director
of the Willink Biochemical Genetics Unit in Manchester, UK, and a principal
investigator for the Aldurazyme clinical trials. "Making Aldurazyme broadly
available will now allow us to improve the lives of all patients with MPS I."
Aldurazyme was developed by BioMarin and Genzyme under a joint venture
agreement that assigns commercial manufacturing responsibilities to BioMarin,
and worldwide sales and marketing responsibilities to Genzyme. Aldurazyme was
approved in the United States on April 30, 2003, and patients began to receive
therapy in mid-May.
Genzyme will launch Aldurazyme in the European Union on a
country-by-country basis, as pricing and reimbursement approvals are obtained.
As the first orphan drug approved for MPS I in the European Union, Aldurazyme
has been granted ten years of market exclusivity.
The companies anticipate that the joint venture will achieve worldwide
revenues from Aldurazyme sales of between $10 and $13 million during the
remainder of 2003. The respective contributions from the United States and
Europe will depend on the timing of obtaining reimbursement approvals in each
region.
Applications to market Aldurazyme are also pending in Israel, Canada, New
Zealand and Australia, and the companies expect a regulatory response in these
countries in late 2003 or early 2004.
In launching Aldurazyme in Europe, Genzyme will build on more than a decade
of experience in bringing enzyme replacement therapies to patients with rare
genetic diseases. Genzyme's substantial European commercial infrastructure
includes sales and marketing teams that also offer Cerezyme(R) (imiglucerase)
for Gaucher disease, and Fabrazyme(R) (agalsidase beta) for Fabry disease.
About MPS I
MPS I is a rare, progressive, heterogeneous, debilitating disease caused by
a deficiency of the enzyme alpha L-iduronidase that affects an estimated 3,000
to 4,000 people worldwide. Patients who lack this enzyme accumulate a
carbohydrate called glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in tissues and organ systems. A
majority of patients die before adulthood due to a wide range of problems
related to the disease, including progressive damage to the heart, lungs and
liver. Aldurazyme addresses the underlying cause of MPS I by replacing the
missing enzyme through a weekly infusion. More information about MPS I can be
found at http://www.mpsIdisease.com.
Clinical data submitted to the EMEA in support of Aldurazyme's marketing
application included safety and efficacy data from a Phase 1/2, 10-patient,
open-label trial and extension study, from a Phase 3, 45-patient, randomized,
double-blind, placebo controlled trial, as well as from the open-label extension
portion of the Phase 3 trial.
Aldurazyme will be manufactured at BioMarin's plant in Novato, California,
USA, which has sufficient capacity to launch the product and to meet world-wide
commercial demand. Bulk enzyme will be sent to Genzyme's manufacturing facility
in Allston, Mass., USA, or to a third-party facility for the final filling and
finishing process. Genzyme's manufacturing facility in Haverhill, UK, will be
responsible for import and batch release in the European Economic Area.
Genzyme General develops and markets therapeutic products and diagnostic
products and services. Genzyme General has six therapeutic products on the
market and a strong pipeline of therapeutic products in development focused on
the treatment of genetic diseases and other chronic debilitating disorders with
well-defined patient populations. Genzyme General is a division of Genzyme Corp.
BioMarin Pharmaceutical specializes in the development and
commercialization of therapeutic enzyme products to treat serious,
life-threatening diseases and conditions.
The most common side effects associated with treatment with Aldurazyme in
clinical trials were upper respiratory tract infection, rash, and injection site
reaction. The most common adverse reactions requiring treatment were
infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions including flushing, fever, headache,
and rash. The most serious adverse reaction reported with Aldurazyme was an
anaphylactic reaction consisting of hives and blockage of the breathing tubes,
which occurred in one person. Emergency surgery was required to help this
patient breathe. This patient's underlying disease may have contributed to the
severity of this reaction. The majority of patients in clinical studies
developed an immune response to treatment with Aldurazyme. The clinical
significance of this response is unknown. Aldurazyme is available by
prescription only. Full US prescribing information is available at
http://www.genzyme.com/corp/AZpi.pdf. European prescribing information will be
available in the coming weeks.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including without
limitation statements about: expectations and plans related to the
commercialization and manufacture of Aldurazyme, including the anticipated
timing of product launch in Europe; market exclusivity for Aldurazyme in Europe;
expected worldwide revenues from Aldurazyme; anticipated timing of actions by
regulatory authorities in Israel, Canada and Australia regarding marketing
applications for Aldurazyme; and estimates concerning the MPS I patient
population. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these
forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others:
the content and actual timing of decisions by regulatory authorities concerning
marketing applications and labeling for Aldurazyme and manufacturing facilities
to be used for Aldurazyme; the content and timing of pricing and reimbursement
approvals for Aldurazyme; the effectiveness of the companies' commercialization
plan for Aldurazyme and Genzyme's distributors and sales and marketing teams;
the ability to manufacture sufficient quantities of product and to do so in a
timely and cost efficient manner; decisions made by physicians, patients and
third party payers regarding the use of and reimbursement for Aldurazyme; the
safety and efficacy data obtained from commercial-scale use of Aldurazyme; the
results of the on-going safety and pharmacokinetics study and the planned dose
optimization study of Aldurazyme; the nature of the long-term data collected
through a registry setting; the companies' ability to obtain and maintain
adequate patent and other proprietary rights protection for Aldurazyme; the
scope, validity and enforceability of patents and other proprietary rights held
by third parties related to therapies for MPS I and the actual impact of such
patents and other rights on the companies' ability to commercialize Aldurazyme;
the ability to establish and maintain relationships with third party
distributors and fill/finish facilities; the timing and content of decisions by
regulatory authorities regarding other products and exceptions to orphan drug
market exclusivity; the continued funding and operation of the joint venture
between Genzyme and BioMarin; the accuracy of the companies' information
concerning the MPS I patient population and the competitive environment; and the
risks and uncertainties described in reports filed by Genzyme and BioMarin with
the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, including without limitation the factors contained under the
caption "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" in Exhibit 99.2 to Genzyme
Corporation's 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended. Genzyme General
Division common stock is a series of common stock of Genzyme Corporation.
Therefore, holders of Genzyme General Division common stock are subject to all
of the risks and uncertainties described in Genzyme Corporation reports. Genzyme
and BioMarin caution investors not to place undue reliance on the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release. These statements
speak only as of the date of this press release, and Genzyme and BioMarin
undertake no obligation to update or revise the statements.
Genzyme(R), Cerezyme(R) and Fabrazyme(R) are registered trademarks of
Genzyme Corporation. Aldurazyme(R) is a registered trademark of BioMarin/Genzyme
LLC. All rights reserved.
BioMarin's press releases and other company information are available
online at http://www.biomarinpharm.com. Information on BioMarin's Web site is
not incorporated by reference into this press release.
# # #
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 1-703-797-1866 outside the United
States.
More information about Aldurazyme is available at http://www.aldurazyme.com.