On this Rare Disease Day, let's all commit to helping recognize the life and work of biotech giant Henri A. Termeer
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Last May the Cambridge community and entire biopharma industry suffered a tremendous loss with the unexpected passing of Henri A. Termeer. Henri was a former chairman, president and CEO of Genzyme Corporation for nearly three decades prior to its acquisition by the French drug maker Sanofi. Retiring from Genzyme in 2011, after his 28-year tenure, Henri led the company’s growth from a small start-up of 20 to 12,000 employees globally serving patients in more than 90 countries all while establishing Massachusetts as the mecca of biotech. He was known for his service to the rare disease community and his unsurpassed entrepreneurial leadership that spurred the rise of an industry dedicated to innovative treatments for orphan diseases. Henri set a standard, always putting patients first, and he forged the path for building a sustainable rare disease business, with many – including Alnylam – following his footsteps. He was a mentor, a colleague, and a friend.
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