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There was good news today from the Haverhill plant of the troubled American biotechnolgy giant Genzyme.

Genzyme announced that Renvela® (sevelamer carbonate), a medication for the control of serum (blood) phosphorus in patients with hyperphosphataemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD), is being formally launched in the UK market this week.

The active ingredient for Renvela (sevelamer carbonate) will be manufactured at Genzyme’s Haverhill site which will supply the whole global market.

Haverhill also plays a pivotal role in distributing the finished product around the UK and the rest of the world.

Elevated serum phosphorus levels (hyperphosphataemia) are common in patients with advanced CKD and several clinical studies show that patients with higher phosphate levels die earlier than those with normal phosphate levels. Therefore controlling levels of phosphate is very important.

Paul Logue, vice-president and general manager at Genzyme, Haverhill, said: “At Haverhill we are proud of the part we play in delivering and developing highly effective therapies for patients with life-threatening conditions such as chronic kidney disease.

"The launch of Renvela in the UK marks an important step in helping to improve the management of chronic kidney disease, and could make a real difference to the lives of patients living with the condition.

"At Haverhill we have been closely involved in developing the manufacturing capacity and processes needed to produce this vital medicine and look forward to playing our role in bringing it to patients in the UK.”

Renvela has received marketing authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for use in CKD patients on dialysis and those who are not on dialysis but have a serum phosphorus level equal to or above 1.78 mmol/l, allowing physicians the opportunity to treat hyperphosphataemia earlier, before dialysis.

Genzyme worldwide has beenj through a troubled time with interruptions in production weakening its market standing and affecting share prices, which in turn has led to a hostile takeover bid from French giant Sanofi.

Recently Genzyme's overall boss Henri Temeer announced the need to shed 1,000 jobs worldwide.