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Dyax and Genzyme Announce Agreement to Terminate Joint Venture for the Commercialization of DX-88 in HAE.


- Dyax Secures 100% Ownership to DX-88 in All Indications -

-- Conference Call Scheduled for 10 am EST EST electroshock therapy.

EST
abbr.
electroshock therapy
, February 21, 2007 --

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Dyax Corp. (NASDAQ NASDAQ
 in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations

U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on
: DYAX) announced today that it has reached a mutual agreement with Genzyme Corporation (NASDAQ: GENZ) to terminate their joint venture for the development and commercialization of DX-88 for hereditary angioedema Hereditary angioedema
A complement deficiency characterized by lymphatic vessel blockages that cause temporary swelling (edema) of areas of the skin, mucous membranes, and, sometimes, internal organs.

Mentioned in: Complement Deficiencies
 (HAE). The termination agreement stipulates that Dyax will receive all the assets of the joint venture, including a 100% ownership of DX-88 worldwide, as well as a $17 million cash payment. Genzyme will receive 4.4 million shares of Dyax common stock. Dyax anticipates that this will not affect the Company's 2007 operating activities or the ongoing development and regulatory timelines for DX-88 in HAE.

"This mutual agreement to end our long-standing relationship with Genzyme opens numerous commercialization and partnering opportunities to optimize the value of our DX-88 franchise for both HAE and cardiothoracic surgery Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in the surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax (the chest). Generally treatment of conditions of the heart (heart disease) and lungs (lung disease).  (CTS (1) (Clear To Send) The RS-232 signal sent from the receiving station to the transmitting station that indicates it is ready to accept data. Contrast with RTS.

(2) (Common Type System) The data typing used in .
)," stated Henry E. Blair, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dyax. "Our four-year partnership with Genzyme has provided us with the knowledge of orphan orphan: see adoption; foundling hospital; guardian and ward.


See widow & orphan.
Orphan
See also Abandonment.

Adverse, Anthony

finally, at middle age, discovers origins. [Am. Lit.
 indications to move forward from here to complete the development of our HAE program without any delays and reach out to the patient and physician communities to make DX-88 a success in the marketplace."

"The decision to end the HAE joint venture with Dyax is based on a mutual agreement as well as a focus on our rich portfolio of approximately 20 pivotal trials for new products and new indications that will contribute to our future growth," stated Henri A. Termeer, President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genzyme Corporation. "Our equity interest in Dyax reflects our continued belief in the approvability of DX-88 for HAE, which addresses a tremendous unmet medical need."

About The Joint Venture

Dyax and Genzyme signed the original agreement to jointly develop and commercialize DX-88 for HAE in 1998; Genzyme exercised an option that created the joint venture in 2003. Dyax has been leading the development of DX-88 in HAE, including all clinical, regulatory and manufacturing activities. Through this collaboration, the companies have treated over 200 patients in multiple clinical studies. DX-88's Phase 3, EDEMA edema (ĭdē`mə), abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body tissues or in the body cavities causing swelling or distention of the affected parts. 3 trial has just recently concluded and Dyax expects to report on the results for the first time in the second quarter of 2007.

About DX-88

DX-88 is a highly specific inhibitor of plasma kallikrein that was discovered and developed by Dyax. Excess plasma kallikrein is thought to play a role in a number of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases Autoimmune diseases
A group of diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, in which immune cells turn on the body, attacking various tissues and organs.

Mentioned in: Complement Deficiencies, Premature Menopause
. Dyax is developing DX-88 for multiple indications including hereditary angioedema (HAE), a rare genetic disorder and to reduce complications associated with on-pump cardiothoracic surgery (CTS).

DX-88 for HAE is in Phase 3 clinical development and has orphan drug orphan drug, drug developed under the U.S. Orphan Drug Act (1983) to treat a disease that affects fewer than 200,000 people in the United States. The orphan drug law offers tax breaks and a seven-year monopoly on drug sales to induce companies to undertake the  designation in the U.S. and E.U., as well as Fast Track designation in the U.S. for the treatment of acute attacks of HAE. Dyax is just initiating Phase 2 clinical development of DX-88 for CTS.

Webcast and Conference Call

Dyax Corp. will host a webcast and conference call, including an open question and answer session to discuss fourth quarter and year end 2006 financial results and this announcement.
[TABLE OMITTED]


A replay of the conference call will be available through March 21, 2007 and may be accessed by dialing 888-286-8010. International callers should dial 617-801-6888. The replay passcode for all callers is 25985263. The webcast will be archived on the Dyax website for an indefinite period of time.

About Dyax

Dyax is focused on advancing novel biotherapeutics for unmet medical needs, with an emphasis on oncology oncology /on·col·o·gy/ (ong-kol´ah-je) the sum of knowledge regarding tumors; the study of tumors.

on·col·o·gy
n.
 and inflammatory indications. Dyax utilizes its proprietary drug discovery technology to identify antibody, small protein and peptide compounds for clinical development.

Dyax's lead product candidate is DX-88, a recombinant small protein that is currently in clinical trials for its therapeutic potential in two separate indications. Dyax has successfully completed three Phase 2 trials and a Phase 3 trial of DX-88 for the treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE). A confirmatory study, known as EDEMA4, is planned and expected to begin in the first quarter of 2007. DX-88 has orphan drug designation in the U.S. and E.U., as well as Fast Track designation in the U.S. for the treatment of acute attacks of HAE.

Additionally, Dyax has successfully completed a Phase 1/2 trial of DX-88 for the prevention of blood loss during on-pump coronary artery bypass graft coronary artery bypass graft
n. Abbr. CABG
A surgical procedure in which a section of vein or other conduit is grafted between the aorta and a coronary artery below the region of an obstruction in that artery.
 (CABG CABG coronary artery bypass graft.

CABG
abbr.
coronary artery bypass graft


CABG Coronary artery bypass graft, see there
) procedures. Dyax is initiating a Phase 2 trial for further development of DX-88 in on-pump cardiothoracic surgery (CTS), including CABG and heart valve replacement Heart Valve Replacement Definition

Heart valve replacement is a surgical procedure during which surgeons remove a damaged valve from the heart and substitute a healthy one.
 and repair procedures.

Dyax identified DX-88 and other compounds in its pipeline using its patented phage display phage display
n.
A technique using recombinant DNA technology to create bacteriophages with a desired peptide embedded in the surface of their protein shells.
 technology, which rapidly selects compounds that bind with high affinity and specificity to therapeutic targets. Dyax leverages this technology broadly with over 70 revenue generating licenses and collaborations for therapeutic discovery, as well as in non-core areas such as affinity separations, diagnostic imaging, and research reagents.

Dyax is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts This article is about the city of Cambridge in Massachusetts. For the English university town, see Cambridge, England. For other places, see Cambridge (disambiguation).
Cambridge, Massachusetts is a city in the Greater Boston area of Massachusetts, United States.
, and has antibody discovery facilities in Liege liege

In European feudal society, an unconditional bond between a man and his overlord. Thus, if a tenant held estates from various overlords, his obligations to his liege lord, to whom he had paid “liege homage,” were greater than his obligations to the other
, Belgium. For online information about Dyax Corp., please visit www.dyax.com.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements forward-looking statement

A projected financial statement based on management expectations. A forward-looking statement involves risks with regard to the accuracy of assumptions underlying the projections.
 regarding Dyax Corp., including statements regarding its plans for the clinical development of DX-88 and the effect of the termination of the joint venture with Genzyme on the timelines of the DX-88 program and Dyax's 2007 operating activities. Statements that are not historical facts are based on Dyax's current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates, forecasts and projections for Dyax and the industry and markets in which Dyax competes. The statements contained in this release are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed in such forward-looking statements because of uncertainties associated with various activities and aspects of Dyax's business, including risks and uncertainties associated with: the timing and results of clinical trials, regulatory review and approval of Dyax's product candidates, intense competition, including in the areas of DX-88's planned indications, Dyax's efforts to develop and commercialize novel products, its dependence on collaborators for development, clinical trials, manufacturing, sales and distribution of products, Dyax's changing requirements and costs associated with planned research and development activities, the uncertainty of patent and intellectual property protection, Dyax's dependence on key management and key suppliers, the impact of future alliances or transactions involving Dyax or others, and other risk factors described or referred to in Dyax's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K

A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information.


Form 10-K

See 10-K.
 and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Dyax cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These statements speak only as of the date of this release, and Dyax undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as may be required by law.

EDEMA2, EDEMA3, Dyax and the Dyax logo are registered trademarks of Dyax Corp. EDEMA4 is a service mark for Dyax Corp.
COPYRIGHT 2007 Business Wire
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2007, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Date:Feb 20, 2007
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