Shire to Take on Genzyme With Gaucher Drug

LEXINGTON, Mass. (TheStreet) -- Shire Pharmaceuticals(SHPGY) will seek U.S. regulatory approval for its Gaucher drug following the release Monday of positive phase III study results.

The Shire drug, known as velaglucerase, represents a significant competitive challenge to the biopharmaceutical firm Genzyme(GENZ) and its Gaucher drug, Cerezyme -- the company's top-selling product.

Gaucher is a rare genetic disease in which patients are missing an enzyme needed to break down a certain type of fat. As a result, that fat accumulates in cells and organs of the body, including the spleen, liver and lungs. Patients with Gaucher are treated with drugs that essentially replace the missing enzyme. ...