Multiple Factors Suggest Genzyme Still Faces Cerezyme Production Problems

In the weeks since Genzyme announced the shutdown of its Allston Landing, Mass., production facility because of viral contamination, the actual severity of the problem has been much debated. On Aug. 10, investors and industry watchers gleaned more about the true extent of the problem, with the Cambridge, Mass.-based big biotech's announcement it had discarded roughly 80 percent of the work-in-process material for Cerezyme (imiglucerase) that remained from when the Allston plant was closed for decontamination in mid-June