Genzyme Transgenics Corporation (GTC), a leader in developing medicines from the milk of transgenic dairy animals, reported that Fresenius AG, one of the world's leading providers of products and services for dialysis, the hospital and the ambulatory medical care of patients, has exercised an option to gain additional rights to market recombinant human serum albumin (rhSA) in Japan.

Fresenius has paid GTC $1.2 million for these rights in accordance with the terms of the cooperation agreement between the two companies. Under this ongoing agreement, Fresenius already has similar marketing rights to rhSA in Europe, North America and the rest of Asia.

"We are pleased that Fresenius has chosen to once again expand their relationship with GTC in the rhSA program," stated Dr. Geoffrey F. Cox, chairman and CEO of GTC. "We believe this program is a powerful example of GTC's ability to develop a protein that is difficult for cell culture technology to express. This is also an excellent example of developing economical production of large volume therapeutics."

Human serum albumin is a human protein that is involved in maintaining fluid balance in the blood and transporting amino acids, fatty acids, and hormones. Current clinical uses of hSA include blood volume replacement in the treatment of shock and serious burns, and during surgeries. There are currently about 400 metric tons of hSA used annually worldwide in all indications; all of it supplied from donated human blood.

GTC has developed cattle that produce rhSA in their milk. This milk is then purified to recover the therapeutic protein. Fresenius will continue to assume the lead position in organizing and conducting the pre-clinical and clinical work to evaluate and develop this recombinant molecule.

* http://www.fresenius-kabi.com