Allston drug plant warned it could get infected with viruses is infected with viruses

By adamg - 6/16/09 - 8:26 am

Associated Press reports Genzyme has stopped production of two drugs so it can sanitize its plant following the discovery of a virus in one of its "bioreactors" - giant tanks filled with billions of Chinese hamster ovary cells that excrete enzymes needed by some people.

The company says the virus is no threat to humans, but interferes with the way the cells grow, slowing their production of the drugs Cerezyme and Fabrazyme.

In March, the FDA warned Genzyme that a fall inspection of the plant found ripe conditions for viral infection because of "failure to establish and follow written procedures designed to prevent microbiological contamination of drug products purporting to be sterile."