-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FDFfqI4g7Zwgz9ofQbHWMgmN7SrS1fUwJELUI+OArCMOYLScVXtIEmHsE3jACwK1
 Cem9WvSdv1mg54r4l75rKw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000732485-06-000012.txt : 20060310
<SEC-HEADER>0000732485-06-000012.hdr.sgml : 20060310
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060310111248
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000732485-06-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060310
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060310

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENZYME CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000732485
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				061047163
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE KENDALL SQ
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172527500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE KENDALL SQUARE
		CITY:			CAMBRIDGE
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02139

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SYRON RICHARD F/CA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-14680
		FILM NUMBER:		06678030

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MCKESSON CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE POST ST.
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94104
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4159838300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MCKESSON CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE POST ST
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94104
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>syr253.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732485</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENZYME CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GENZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197930</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SYRON RICHARD F/CA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GENZYME CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 KENDALL STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Genzyme common stock (GENZ)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Susan P. Cogswell, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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