Genzyme, Abbott score FDA approvals

A pair of developers won significant new approvals from the FDA today.

Genzyme got a green light from the agency to start marketing Mozobil, a drug that lures blood-forming stem cells from the bone marrow to the blood stream for easier harvesting. The therapy won orphan drug status for use in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

"Mozobil is an important advancement in the treatment of patients with certain types of cancer who require a stem cell transplant," said John F. DiPersio, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, in a company statement. "This product should become an integral part of the treatment regimen for transplantation."

Abbott Laboratories, meanwhile, won approval to sell TriLipix, a cholesterol-lowering drug that can be used alone or with other drugs. Abbott is looking for a successor to TriCor, a cholesterol drug that loses patent protection in 2011. TriCor earned $1.2 billion last year.

- here's Genzyme's release
- see Abbott's Announcement
- read the report on Genzyme from Xconomy
- check out the story on Abbott from the Los Angeles Times

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