Shire (LSE:[[ticker:SHP]])—an Ireland-based drug company that has its Human Genetic Therapies unit based in Cambridge, MA—reports that it has asked European regulators to approve its treatment for Gaucher disease, velaglucerase alfa. If approved by the European Medicines Agency, Shire’s enzyme-replacement treatment will compete with Cambridge-based biotech Genzyme’s (NASDAQ:[[ticker:GENZ]]) market-leading imiglucerase (Cerezyme), which has faced supply shortages. Shire said it is also seeking approval of its Gaucher drug in Canada and the U.S.
Author: Ryan McBride
Ryan is an award-winning business journalist who contributes to our life sciences and technology coverage. He was previously a staff writer for Mass High Tech, a Boston business and technology newspaper, where he and his colleagues won a national business journalism award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers in 2008. In recent years, he has made regular TV appearances on New England Cable News.
Prior to MHT, Ryan covered the life sciences, technology, and energy sectors for Providence Business News. He graduated with honors from the University of Rhode Island in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. When he’s not chasing down news, Ryan enjoys mountain biking and skiing in his home state of Vermont.
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