Filed by Genzyme Corporation (Commission File No. 000-14680)
                           pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933

                    Subject Company: Focal, Inc. (Commission File No. 000-23247)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               MEDIA CONTACT:            INVESTOR CONTACT:
                                    --------------            -----------------
April 26, 2001                      Dan Quinn                 Kim Witkop
                                    617-591-5849              617-761-8563


                         GENZYME TO ACQUIRE FOCAL, INC.
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      MOVE WILL STRENGTHEN GENZYME BIOSURGERY'S LEADERSHIP IN BIOMATERIALS

         CAMBRIDGE and LEXINGTON, Massachusetts -- Genzyme Corp. will acquire
Focal, Inc. (Nasdaq: FOCL) and merge its operations with Genzyme Biosurgery
(Nasdaq: GZBX), the companies announced today. Genzyme, which currently holds 22
percent of Focal, will acquire the remaining 78 percent of the Lexington,
Mass.-based company in an exchange of Genzyme Biosurgery stock for Focal stock.

         The merger is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2001,
pending approval by Focal shareholders. It adds Focal's intellectual property
portfolio and expertise with synthetic biomaterials to Genzyme Biosurgery's
resources, infrastructure, and portfolio of products in the area of surgical
biomaterials. Genzyme Biosurgery also will gain worldwide rights to market
FocalSeal(R) -L, a synthetic liquid polymer it currently markets in North
America that is used to seal air leaks that develop during lung surgery. Genzyme
Biosurgery also acquires a pipeline of biomaterials being developed for other

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Genzyme Biosurgery to Acquire Focal, Inc. -- page 2


types of surgeries, including FocalSeal(R)-S for use in sealing the dura
following brain or spinal surgery.

         "We have been very pleased by our initial work with FocalSeal-L, and
are excited about the chance to gain worldwide rights to the product," said Duke
Collier, president of Genzyme Biosurgery. "Obtaining Focal's extensive
intellectual property and promising product pipeline will expand our leadership
position in the emerging field of surgical biomaterials. Moreover, this merger
will be immediately accretive both to our earnings and to our cash position."

         Genzyme Biosurgery began marketing FocalSeal-L surgical sealant in
North America in July 2000, and so far more than 180 hospitals in the United
States have adopted the product. In exchange for these marketing rights, Genzyme
has invested $15 million in Focal, and currently holds an equity share of
approximately 22 percent.

         Under the terms of the merger agreement, Focal shareholders will
receive 0.1545 shares of Genzyme Biosurgery stock for each share of Focal stock
they hold. Long-term institutional shareholders, representing approximately 12.5
percent of Focal's outstanding shares, have entered into voting agreements and
will vote their shares to approve the merger. Genzyme and Focal also agreed to
modify certain terms of their existing stock purchase agreement in light of the
merger agreement. Approximately 2.1 million shares of Genzyme Biosurgery stock
will be used in the transaction.

         It is expected that the merger will be accounted for using the purchase
method of accounting, and it will be structured as a taxable transaction.

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Genzyme Biosurgery to Acquire Focal, Inc. -- page 3

         "We are very pleased with this merger," said Ron Rudowsky, president
and CEO of Focal. "Focal's executive management team and our Board of Directors
believe it is in the best interest of both our shareholders and our employees to
combine resources at this time. Genzyme Biosurgery's newly expanded organization
and mission is well suited to continue the market development of the surgical
sealant business. Its financial and technical resources and commitment to
pioneering new biomaterial products will help expand the range of applications
for Focal's proprietary biomaterial platform. We are confident that Focal will
play an important role in Genzyme Biosurgery's future."

         The acquisition solidifies Genzyme Biosurgery's position as a world
leader in the use of biopolymers to improve surgical outcomes. By adding
FocalSeal-L surgical sealant and Focal's products in development to a lineup
that already includes Synvisc(R), Seprafilm(TM) and Sepramesh(TM), Genzyme
Biosurgery broadens both its commercial base and its expertise and intellectual
property portfolio in both synthetic and natural biopolymers. This broad base
will provide increased flexibility to address a wide range of surgical needs.

         Genzyme Biosurgery is a leader in the emerging market for sophisticated
biotechnology products used to improve or replace surgery. Its portfolio of
products is concentrated in two rapidly growing markets: orthopaedics and heart
disease. Genzyme Biosurgery is developing a pipeline of biomaterials and
biotherapeutics for these markets, as well as a group of biomaterials products


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Genzyme Biosurgery to Acquire Focal, Inc. -- page 4


with broader surgical applications. Genzyme Biosurgery is a division of Genzyme
Corp.

         Focal, Inc. develops, manufactures and commercializes a proprietary
platform polymer technology currently used for synthetic, absorbable, liquid
surgical sealants, and being investigated for other purposes, including drug
delivery and tissue engineering. In addition to its commercial surgical sealants
for lung and neurological surgery, the company's FocalSeal-L and FocalSeal-S
surgical sealant products are currently being developed for use inside the body
to seal leaks resulting from cardiovascular and gastrointestinal surgery.

                                      # # #

         Genzyme's releases are on the World Wide Web at http://www.genzyme.com.
They are also available from Genzyme's fax-on-demand service at 1-800-436-1443
in the United States and 1-201-521-1080 elsewhere.

         Genzyme(R) is registered trademark of Genzyme Corporation. Synvisc(R)
is a registered trademark of Genzyme Biosurgery Corporation. Focal(R) and
FocalSeal(R) are registered trademarks of Focal, Inc. Seprafilm(TM) and
Sepramesh(TM) are trademarks of Genzyme Corporation.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

         This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations and
beliefs of managements of Genzyme Corp. and Focal regarding the acquisition of
Focal and the integration of Focal's business and operations into Genzyme's
Biosurgery division, including without limitation statements about: the
completion of the proposed acquisition of Focal, Inc. by Genzyme, the date the
acquisition will be completed, the effect of the acquisition on the financial
performance and cash position of Genzyme Biosurgery, the method of accounting
and taxable nature of the acquisition, and the expansion of Focal's technology
and the broadened biopolymer expertise of Genzyme Biosurgery following
completion of the acquisition. Actual results may materially differ due to
numerous factors, including: conditions in the financial markets relevant to the
proposed acquisition; the need for regulatory clearance and approvals for the
acquisition, including the Securities and Exchange Commission's willingness to
declare a registration


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Genzyme Biosurgery to Acquire Focal, Inc. -- page 5


statement relating to the issuance by Genzyme of shares to complete the
acquisition and the timing of such SEC determination; the operational
integration associated with the combination of Focal's and Genzyme Biosurgery's
businesses, and other risks generally associated with transactions of this type;
the ability of Focal to continue to operate its business successfully prior to
the completion of the acquisition; the market acceptance of Genzyme Biosurgery's
products and services; the ability of Genzyme Biosurgery to successfully
commercialize its products and services; the competitive environment in the
market for Genzyme Biosurgery's products and services; and the risks and
uncertainties described in reports filed by Genzyme Corporation with the
Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, including without limitation Exhibit 99.2 to Genzyme's 2000 Annual
Report on Form 10-K. Genzyme Biosurgery Division Common Stock is a series of
common stock of Genzyme Corporation. Therefore, holders of Genzyme Biosurgery
Division Common Stock are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties
described in the aforementioned reports relating generally to the holders of
Genzyme Corporation common stock .

WHERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION

         This material is not a substitute for the prospectus/proxy statement
Genzyme and Focal will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Investors are urged to read that document because it will contain important
information, including detailed risk factors. Genzyme and Focal expect to mail
the proxy statement/prospectus describing the merger and the related
transactions to Focal stockholders. The proxy statement/prospectus and other
documents filed by Genzyme and Focal with the SEC will be available free of
charge at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov) and from Genzyme or Focal by directing
such requests to the respective contacts listed above.

         Focal, its directors, and certain of its executive officers may be
considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the
merger. Information concerning Focal's directors and executive officers can be
found in the documents filed by Focal with the SEC. Certain directors and
executive officers of Focal may have direct or indirect interests in the merger
due to securities holdings, vesting of options, and rights to severance payments
if their employment is terminated following the merger. In addition, directors
and officers, after the merger, will be indemnified by Genzyme, and benefit from
insurance coverage, for liabilities that may arise from their service as
directors and officers of Focal prior to the merger. Additional information
regarding the participants in the solicitation will be contained in the proxy
statement/prospectus.