Genzyme Molecular Oncology said today that it has entered into several agreements that extend the application of the patented SAGE(TM) (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression) technology to agricultural research.

The Novartis Agricultural Discovery Institute Inc. (NADII) has licensed SAGE for use in research on plant growth and diseases. The license is for a defined term and may be extended at the option of Novartis. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

In addition, Genzyme Molecular Oncology and the Monsanto Company are collaborating on a
project in which Genzyme will be conducting SAGE to construct libraries from plant samples
supplied by Monsanto.

Genzyme Molecular Oncology is also collaborating with Daniel Bergey, Ph.D., of Montana State
University. Bergey is conducting research to establish a comprehensive comparative profile of
defense- and stress-related genes in tomato plants. He is using information from SAGE to identify
and characterize the genetic regulation of the plant ``wound'' hormone, systemin. Systemin initiates a signaling cascade that is strikingly similar to the one seen in the inflammatory response in animal cells. As such, Bergey's work may ultimately have application to both plant and animal product development.

In addition, under an agreement with Professor James Dunwell of The University of Reading,
England, SAGE was used to evaluate gene expression in rice, widely recognized to be the best
model cereal for genomic analysis. Many genes identified in this study are believed to be novel, as they were not previously published in the database assembled by the International Rice Genome Sequencing Project. Genzyme Molecular Oncology and the University of Reading are actively seeking licenses for commercial application of the research.

"These agreements demonstrate SAGE's wide-ranging potential in the field of agricultural
genomics,'' said Gail Maderis, president of Genzyme Molecular Oncology. "In addition to utilizing
SAGE internally as part of our own therapeutic discovery efforts in oncology, we will continue to
seek to license SAGE so that we can generate revenues to support development of our cancer
therapies.''

SAGE is a high-efficiency method of comprehensively identifying and quantifying genes expressed in a tissue or cell line. It can be used in a wide variety of applications such as identifying disease-related genes, analyzing the effects of drugs on tissues, and providing insight into disease pathways. SAGE is an integral part of Genzyme Molecular Oncology's therapeutic discovery efforts. To date, Genzyme Molecular Oncology has generated a database of over three million tags, believed to represent in excess of 100,000 genes from major cancers and normal human tissue.

In addition to the aforementioned agreements, Genzyme Molecular Oncology has signed SAGE
agreements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies including the Parke-Davis division
of the Warner-Lambert Company, Bayer, Affymetrix, and Ontogeny. SAGE's capabilities as a
gene expression discovery tool enable researchers to better understand biological pathways in
normal and diseased tissues. This has applications in many areas of pharmaceutical and life sciences research.

Monsanto is a life sciences company, committed to finding solutions to the growing global needs for food and health by sharing common forms of science and technology among agriculture, nutrition, and health. The company's 30,600 employees worldwide research, make and market high-value agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, and nutrition-based health products.

Genzyme Molecular Oncology is developing a new generation of cancer products focusing on
cancer vaccines and angiogenesis inhibitors. It is shaping these new therapies through the
integration of its gene discovery, gene therapy, small-molecule drug discovery, and protein
therapeutic efforts. A division of Genzyme Corporation, Genzyme Molecular Oncology has its own common stock intended to reflect its economic value and track its performance.

Company news release
N1995