Global health HAND out

Genzyme Corp. has launched a global health initiative targeted at the links in the drug development chain where industry has unique capabilities. These include providing technologies such as high throughput screening that academic research labs lack and applying skills in areas such as medicinal chemistry and trial design and interpretation that companies with marketed products typically have mastered.

The Humanitarian Assistance for Neglected Diseases initiative (HAND) is intended to meet the company's obligations to society and serve as a model for profitable biotech companies, not to generate revenue, SVP James Geraghty told BioCentury. Moreover, he said, the costs associated with HAND will not have a financially material impact on the company...