Genzyme offers EMEA update of cerezyme availability

Genzyme has informed the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) that shortages of its Gaucher disease treatment drug cerezyme (imiglucerase) are more serious than initially believed.

As a result, the EMEA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has issued new temporary treatment recommendations which state that patients in the greatest need will be prioritised for the therapy until shortages are tackled.

Under the new regulations, individuals in need of the drug will receive reduced doses or infusion frequency at no less than 15 units per kilogramme of body weight.

The deficit in production is due to Genzyme halting manufacture at its Allston Landing site in June 2009 due to a viral contamination.

Genzyme last week released an update of the progress it is making at cleaning up the Allston plant following the discovery of the virus.

It revealed that it will discard 80 per cent of the work it was in the process of completing, something it believes will ensure that supply is strong again by the end of the year.