CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Biotechnology company Genzyme Corp. said Thursday that its drug candidate Mozobil met its main and secondary goals in a late-stage trial in treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The drug is designed to allow for the more rapid and effective release of stem cells from the bone marrow into the blood. The goal is for these stem cells to be collected and used in a stem cell transplant, Genzyme (nasdaq: GENZ - news - people ) said.

Patients in the trial were undergoing stem cell transplants for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph system, which is estimated to cause more than 18,000 deaths in the United States this year, according to the National Cancer Institute.

The 298-person study looked at the effectiveness of Mozobil in increasing the number of stem cells found in the bone marrow and collected for a transplant.

The company said 59 percent of Mozobil-treated patients in the trial achieved the primary goal of increasing the cell count. In the secondary target, nearly 87 percent of patients treated with Mozobil achieved the minimum level of stem cells generally connected with a successful transplant, Genzyme said.

The most common side effects were mild gastrointestinal effects and redness at the injection site.

Based on these results, Genzyme said it expects to file for U.S. and European approval in lymphoma in the first half of 2008.

Shares of Genzyme rose 11 cents to $61.41 in morning trade.

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Source: Forbes