CAMBRIDGE, Mass. 04/22/2008 —Genzyme Corp. said today that it will build a research and development center in Beijing that will help establish a long-term presence in China and continue the pharmaceutical company’s global expansion.

The Beijing facility will be used for research and development activities in orthopedics, transplant and immune disease, oncology, endocrinology and cardiovascular disease, according to Genzyme.

The company’s main research and development operations are in Massachusetts. Genzyme also has a research site in the United Kingdom. The 200,000-square-foot Beijing facility will be the company's second product-focused R&D site outside of the United States.

Genzyme is seeking necessary governmental authorizations and said it expects to complete and open the facility in 2010. The Beijing facility will be able accommodate 350 employees, and the total cost for the project is estimated to be $90 million.

The China-based facility will be located in Zhongguancun (ZGC) Life Science Park, an area dedicated to academic and government research centers as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

The building will be constructed with low-impact environmental techniques and methods, and will incorporate a range of environmentally responsible features, including: a living roof to reduce pollution caused by storm water runoff; a solar thermal system that will provide a significant portion of the building's hot water and reduce its energy consumption; and low-flow fixtures to limit water usage, according to Genzyme.

Genzyme said it is seeking certification for the new R&D building with the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

"This new site represents a major step forward in our effort to improve the lives of patients in China by introducing innovative new medical products," Henri A. Termeer, Genzyme's chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement. "As we expand our presence in China, we look forward to making a significant contribution to the growth of the country's life sciences industry."