On Jun. 8, 1981, Genzyme was founded by Sheridan Snyder, George M. Whitesides and scientist Henry Blair, with the first office and laboratory located on the top floor of a 15-story building at 75 Kneeland Street in the Chinatown section of Boston, Mass.

In 2011, Sanofi-aventis acquired Genzyme for $74 a share in cash or $21.1 billion.