Henri Termeer

Henri Termeer (February 28, 1946 – May 12, 2017) was a Dutch-American biotechnology executive and entrepreneur. He is best known for his role as the CEO of Genzyme, a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he served for nearly three decades.

Early Life and Education

Termeer was born in the Netherlands in 1946. He earned his bachelor's degree in economics from the Economische Hogeschool (now Erasmus University Rotterdam) and his MBA from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

Career

Termeer began his career at Baxter International, a global healthcare company, where he held various positions in finance and general management. In 1983, he joined Genzyme, which was then a small start-up. Under his leadership, Genzyme grew into one of the world's leading biotechnology companies, specializing in the development and delivery of transformative therapies for patients with rare and special unmet medical needs.

Termeer was instrumental in the development of Cerezyme, a treatment for Gaucher's disease, a rare genetic disorder. This marked a significant milestone in the field of rare diseases and orphan drugs, setting a precedent for the development of treatments for other rare conditions.

Legacy

Termeer's contributions to the biotechnology industry and his commitment to developing treatments for rare diseases have left a lasting legacy. The Henri A. Termeer Tribute Committee and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council have established the Henri A. Termeer Innovative Leadership Award in his honor.

See Also

• Biotechnology
• Genzyme
• Orphan drugs
• Rare diseases

External Links

• Genzyme Official Website