Fellow ListMembers -

I thought this would be of interest to the group.

As most of you probably know, I am 1 of the 12 patients in the first phase of
this study.  It offers great hope to all of us!

My 15-month evaluation is in the next few weeks and, as always, I will report
the results to you.

For those who have not read my previous postings, I will gladly E-Mail them
to you if requested.

Jim Finn    49 / 18


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Genzyme Corporation - Investor Information - Press Releases - Tissue Repair
Division


Genzyme Tissue Repair, Diacrin Announce NeuroCell-PD Phase I Results

September 29, 1997


Genzyme Tissue Repair (Nasdaq:GENZL) and Diacrin Inc. (Nasdaq:DCRN) announced
today that their NeuroCell-PD porcine neural cell product for transplantation
into people with advanced Parkinson's disease was well tolerated in patients
treated with the therapy in a phase I study.

The study results, presented Sunday at a medical symposium in San Diego, also
showed evidence of clinical improvement in patients who were treated with
NeuroCell-PD.

In the study's 10 evaluable patients who were measured at a time when their
L-dopa medication was wearing off, preliminary data indicated an average
improvement of 13.2 points at six months after surgery on a standardized
scale
that measures a patient's ability to perform a variety of movements. This
result was statistically significant, compared to an evaluation that was
taken
prior to surgery.

"It's a good start for us," said study presenter Samuel Ellias, M.D, Ph.D.,
assistant professor of neurology at Boston University Medical Center.  "One
patient has been followed for more than two years now, and has not had any
significant adverse effects from the surgery.  We're looking forward to
finding out how much potential this promising treatment holds for Parkinson's
disease patients."

Based on these results, the companies plan to start a pivotal phase II trial
later this year.

Although there have not been any absolute epidemiologic studies on
Parkinson's
disease, medical experts believe that approximately 500,000 Americans have
Parkinson's disease, and another 50,000 cases are diagnosed each year.
Patients experience a variety of motor symptoms, including tremors, falls,
rigidity, slowed movements, and difficulties with speech and swallowing.

Therapy with the drug L-dopa is initially effective but begins to lose its
efficacy in 6 to 12 years.  Medical experts believe that approximately
150,000 people in the United States are in the late stages of the disease,
during which L-dopa provides a diminishing benefit.  The resulting medical
expenses, early retirement, and nursing home care cost $5.6 billion a year.


Study Results
In the phase I study, 12 patients with moderate to severe Parkinson's disease
received a transplant of porcine cells into three sites in the brain located
just below the cortex, which is involved with smoothing and coordinating
movement.

Half of the patients received the drug cyclosporine to suppress the immune
system to avoid rejection of the transplant.  The other 6 patients received
a new technology in which the donor cells are treated prior to
transplantation
so that the patient's immune system does not recognize them as foreign and
thus, does not attack them.

The patients were evaluated both before and after surgery using a
standardized
scale for measuring a patient's ability to perform several different types of
movement, timed movement tests, and neuropsychological tests.  Patients were
measured when their L-dopa medication was working and when its therapeutic
effects had worn off.  Two of the patients were too sick to be evaluated
properly before surgery and therefore were not included in the group data.

There were no serious adverse events or decrements in neuropsychological
tests
attributable to the porcine cells.  In addition to the preliminary efficacy
shown at 6 months, the two evaluable patients at 15 months after surgery
showed an average improvement of 29 points when their L-dopa medication was
wearing off.  The first patient to be treated was followed for 24 months and
showed improvement of greater than 45 points, both when the L-dopa medication
was working as well as when it was wearing off.

One of the patients died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism (which was not
related to the transplant) 7 months after surgery.  Histological studies
of the patient showed that the porcine cells survived and showed signs of
reconnecting nerve tissue damaged by the disease.  The histological results
were published in the March 1997 issue of Nature Medicine.

The study sites for the trial were Boston University Medical Center and the
Lahey-Hitchcock Clinic, both located in the Boston area.

Diacrin develops and produces transplantable porcine cells for the treatment
of intractable human diseases characterized by cell dysfunction or cell
death.
Product candidates in preclinical development include NeuroCell-FE for focal
epilepsy, NeuroCell-CD for cognitive disorders, HepatoCell for liver failure
and hypercholesterolemia, and CardioCell for repair of damaged heart muscle.

Genzyme Tissue Repair is a leading developer of biological products for the
treatment of cartilage damage, severe burns, chronic skin ulcers, and
neurodegenerative diseases.  It is a division of Genzyme Corp. and has its
own
common stock intended to reflect its value and track its performance.

Last year, Genzyme Tissue Repair and Diacrin formed a 50-50 joint venture,
Diacrin/Genzyme LLC, to speed the development and commercialization of
NeuroCell-PD and NeuroCell-HD for the treatment of Huntington's disease,
which is currently in a phase I clinical trial.

This news release contains a forward-looking statements about the potential
market size for NeuroCell-PD and the planned start of a pivotal trial of
NeuroCell-PD.  The actual market size may differ, depending on the accuracy
of
the company's information about the prevalence of advanced Parkinson's
disease.
The planned timing of the pivotal trial may vary, depending on the schedule
of
implementation at the various clinical trial sites.

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