"We were planning to build a similar facility in Framingham," Bo Piela, spokesperson for Genzyme, tells GlobeSt.com. "This will replace that work." Piela notes that the facility in Belgium is nearly complete and "accelerates our time frame." The facility here was in the planning stages and was supposed to be 300,000 sf. Piela says that Genzyme will expand the capacity of the facility in Belgium and it will be the company's second major protein plant. The company has a protein plant in Boston in the neighborhood of Allston.

In addition, Genzyme also acquired a pilot plant. The deal has been approved by the Commercial Court in Turnhout, the Province of Antwerp, and Genzyme's board of directors.