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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GENZYME AND FOCAL, INC. ANNOUNCE FILING OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR GENZYME'S
ACQUISITION OF FOCAL CAMBRIDGE and LEXINGTON, Mass., May 21 - Genzyme Corp. and
Focal, Inc. today announced the filing of Genzyme's registration statement with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the acquisition of Focal
(Nasdaq: FOCL) by Genzyme. The transaction was announced April 26, 2001.

The merger is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2001, pending
approval by Focal shareholders and satisfaction of other customary conditions.
At that time Focal's operations will be merged with Genzyme Biosurgery (Nasdaq:
GZBX).

When the acquisition is completed, Genzyme will combine Focal's intellectual
property portfolio and expertise with synthetic biomaterials with Genzyme
Biosurgery's resources, infrastructure, and portfolio of products in the area of
surgical biomaterials. Genzyme Biosurgery 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. The
Focal acquisition also will bring Genzyme Biosurgery a pipeline of biomaterials
being developed for other types of surgeries, including FocalSeal(R)-S for use
in sealing the dura following brain or spinal surgery.

Under the terms of the agreement, Focal shareholders will receive 0.1545 shares
of Genzyme Biosurgery stock for each share of Focal common stock they hold.

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
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. Focal(R) and
FocalSeal(R) are registered trademarks of Focal, Inc.

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on Genzyme Corp.'s
current expectations 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
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 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 ability of Genzyme Biosurgery to successfully commercialize its
products and services; 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.

This material is not a substitute for the joint prospectus/proxy statement
Genzyme and Focal filed on May 21,2001 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 may be obtained 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.