Genzyme, Cleveland Clinic partner to develop new therapeutic approaches for MS treatment

Genzyme, a Sanofi company (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced today the formation of a research collaboration with Cleveland Clinic focused on developing new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of MS.

This innovative collaboration aligns the research efforts of both organizations around projects which are designed to develop a deep understanding of the pathogenesis and progression of MS and to address the unmet medical needs in MS, particularly progressive forms of the disease. Initially the collaboration will focus on projects that explore strategies to address neurodegeneration, a hallmark of progressive MS, and novel technologies to better understand the pathology of the disease. The collaboration will be led by a joint steering committee comprised of Genzyme and Cleveland Clinic researchers and span a minimum of 5 years.

"As leaders in MS we want to advance and build a sustainable pipeline of novel therapeutic approaches, and our collaboration with Cleveland Clinic, along with our internal R&D efforts, reinforce Genzyme's long-term commitment to the MS community," said David Meeker, President and CEO, Genzyme. "We are excited to work collaboratively with a premier research and health care institution that has made many important contributions to better understanding this complex and devastating disease."

Cleveland Clinic's Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis has one of the largest and most comprehensive programs for MS care and research worldwide, managing more than 20,000 patient visits every year. The Center has a highly innovative and active research team, which has been at the forefront of MS advances for the past two decades.

"This collaboration will allow for the development of innovative approaches to evaluate potential new therapies for progressive MS," said Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, M.D., Director of the Experimental Therapeutics Program at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis.

More than 2.3 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with MS, including approximately 400,000 people in the United States.