Following the February 2009 approval by Health Canada, Genzyme Canada announced the availability of Synvisc-One (Hylan GF-20), a single injection viscosupplement approved for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Synvisc-One is the latest addition to a growing Synvisc family of products used to treat Osteoarthritis including: a single 2mL injection for the hip, shoulder and ankle, and a 3 X 2mL dosage format for the knee. Osteoarthritis is a common, debilitating disease that affects approximately one in 10 Canadians.

"For Canadians with osteoarthritis, the availability of Synvisc-One provides a convenient option with proven effectiveness for those suffering needlessly from knee pain," said Brian Lewis, general manager, Genzyme Canada.

Synvisc-One has been shown to significantly improve OA knee pain for up to six months with a low incidence of local side effects.

"Synvisc (Hylan GF-20) 3 x 2mL injection is one of the most widely studied and therefore prescribed viscosupplements on the Canadian market," said Dr Jean-Pierre Raynauld, Rheumatologist at the Montreal Rheumatology Institute and at Notre-Dame Hospital, CHUM in Montreal. "Synvisc-One is opening a door to a new era of viscosupplementation; providing therapy with proven efficacy combined with the convenience of a single injection."

The 6mL dose of Synvisc-One (hylan G-F 20) was developed on a prospective, randomized study comparing a range of new dosing regimes against the current Synvisc dosing regime which is 3 X 2mL 3 weeks apart.

Genzyme Corporation is a biotechnology and health care products company that develops innovative products and services for major unmet medical needs.