Genzyme and Fovea Pharmaceuticals SA have entered into a collaborative research pact centered on Fovea’s proprietary high content technology platform that allows the identification of new targets involved in photoreceptor degeneration in retinal dystrophies. The companies will collaborate to develop gene-related therapies using Fovea’s selected targets and Genzyme’s gene delivery technologies.

Fovea’s scientific, clinical and pharmaceutical expertise in retinal diseases and Genzyme’s extensive know-how in protein production and gene delivery will offer customized solutions for the understanding of the disease mechanisms, with the goal to develop new therapeutic strategies to prevent or reduce the severity of blindness, according to a Fovea statement.

“This first research partnership signed with Genzyme demonstrates the interest of our proprietary discovery platform,” said Bernard Gilly, chairman and chief executive officer of Fovea. “This collaboration underscores the substantial opportunity that our expertise in retinal diseases and unique platform provide to increase the efficiency and probability of success in ophthalmology drug discovery and development.”