Genzyme, French firm collaborate on gene therapies

A Bay state biotech will work with a French company to develop gene therapies that prevent blindness.
Genzyme Corp. in Cambridge (Nasdaq: GENZ) said on Tuesday that it hat signed a collaboration deal with Fovea Pharmaceuticals SA in Paris.
Both companies declined to disclose financial terms. But as part of the partnership, Fovea will provide scientific, clinical and pharmaceutical know-how in retinal diseases. Genzyme will contribute its expertise in protein production and gene delivery.
The treatments will focus on identifying new potential treatments that could attack photoreceptor degeneration, a major cause of irreversible blindness.
The collaboration represents a continued expansion of Genzyme's product focus. It also shows how Genzyme is willing to turn to innovative startups to identify new concepts for treatments.
The publicly-traded Genzyme, which now generates more than $3 billion in annual revenue, is paired with a startup that launched in May 2005 and remains privately held.
credited by: bizjournals.com