Genzyme, a subsidiary of Sanofi, is a biotech firm specializing in rare diseases, kidney diseases, transplants and surgery. Its business involves every step of the biomedicine production chain, from research and clinical trials to marketing and production of treatments.
Founded in Boston in 1981, the company now has offices on 5 continents and employs over 10,000 people worldwide.
To manufacture these treatments, Genzyme has set up a worldwide network of specialized production sites. The company has a production unit in Lyon, Genzyme Polyclonals, dedicated exclusively to producing thymoglobulin, a polyclonal antibody used to prevent the rejection of an organ or bone marrow transplant. This facility, located at the Lyon-Gerland Biodistrict since 2011, has just obtained authorization from world health agencies to produce its antibody. Genzyme Polyclonals can thus produce 2 million vials a year at its Lyon facility and supply 65 countries.
The historic Marcy-l’Etoile site, where the company still carries out its production activities, is expected to close before the end of October 2015. All activities will then be brought together at the Lyon-Gerland facility, which will have a total of 300 employees.
In addition, Genzyme has signed a partnership agreement to be a subcontractor to biotech firm Transgene, a subsidiary of Institut Mérieux, and produce the viral vectors it needs to develop immunotherapeutic treatments for certain cancers and infectious diseases. To do this, Sanofi and Transgene have invested in the construction of a new 1,200 sq. m. bio production unit to be built in Lyon-Gerland in 2016. This cutting-edge viral therapy platform will enable production of the active ingredients for Transgene and for other treatments being developed by Genzyme.
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