Genzyme Corp. of Cambridge, Mass., and Genentech Inc. of SouthSan Francisco, Calif., have received Japanese marketingapproval for their tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) heartattack drugs.

Genentech's t-PA will be co-marketed by Mitsubishi KaseiCorp. and Tanabe Seiyaka under the name GRTPA and by KyowaHakko Co. Ltd. as Activacin. Genzyme's Plasminer t-PA will bemarketed by Toyobo Co. Ltd.

Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) strikes about140,000 people annually in Japan. Genentech had no estimateof the size of the market for t-PA, but Genzyme put it at $350million. Toyobo estimates it will have $29 million in t-PAsales in its first year.

The Japanese National Health Insurance System has set a pricefor Genentech's t-PA at about $2,250 for a 40-mg dose. Theprice for Genzyme's product is $2,400 for 20 million units.

Genentech (NYSE:GNE) in 1987 filed a patent infringement suitagainst Toyobo and against Sumitomo, which is the licensee ofthe Wellcome Foundation. Genzyme (NASDAQ:GENZ) said Toyobobelieves its t-PA is not covered by the claims of Genentech'sJapanese patent. Genentech had no comment on the suit.

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