Genzyme and Isis Complete Licensing of ...( Conference call to be h...),Health

Conference call to be held today at 10 a.m. EDT

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., and CARLSBAD, Calif., June 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genzyme Corp. (Nasdaq: GENZ) and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS) today announced the finalization of the license and collaboration agreement for mipomersen. The collaboration provides Genzyme with exclusive worldwide rights to mipomersen, a novel lipid-lowering drug discovered and developed by Isis that is in phase 3 clinical development. During the second half of this year, enrollment is expected to be completed in a pivotal study of mipomersen in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, and a new trial in apheresis-eligible patients is expected to begin.

As part of the agreement, Isis will receive a $175 million license fee for mipomersen. In February, Isis received a $150 million payment from Genzyme to purchase 5 million shares of Isis common stock at $30 per share.

The companies have updated the deal terms so that Isis will contribute up to $50 million in additional development funding for mipomersen, bringing Isis' development funding commitment up to $125 million. Thereafter Isis and Genzyme will share development costs equally. The initial Isis development funding commitment and the shared funding will end when the program is profitable. In exchange for this additional contribution, Isis has the opportunity to receive $75 million in milestone payments early.

"Mipomersen is an innovative treatment that has the potential to change the standard of care for severely ill patients whose needs cannot be addressed by current cholesterol-lowering therapies," said Henri A. Termeer, Genzyme's chairman and chief executive officer. "This treatment is an important addition to
'/>"/>