<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from (a) the
Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements of Genzyme Corporation and its
Subsidiaries for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 and is qualified in
its Entirety by reference to such (b) financial statements as included in the
form 10-Q for Genzyme Corporation dated September 30, 1998.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<CASH> 78,333
<SECURITIES> 135,810
<RECEIVABLES> 147,194
<ALLOWANCES> 18,605
<INVENTORY> 105,732
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 519,531
<PP&E> 523,853
<DEPRECIATION> 140,534
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,624,130
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 147,648
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 1,042
<OTHER-SE> 1,076,471
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,624,130
<SALES> 501,027
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 508,819
<CGS> 166,470
<TOTAL-COSTS> 203,015
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 232,855
<LOSS-PROVISION> 4,101
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,068
<INCOME-PRETAX> 60,982
<INCOME-TAX> 25,135
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 35,847
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 35,847
<EPS-BASIC> 1.13<F1><F2>
<EPS-DILUTED> 1.09<F1><F2>
<FN>
<F1>This financial data schedule has been restated to reflect the creation of
Genzyme Surgical Products on June 28, 1999. Genzyme Surgical Products
was created from programs and products that had previously been included in the
results of Genzyme General until the creation date of June 28, 1999.
All Genzyme General historical division net income (loss) allocated to Genzyme
General Stock and net income (loss) per share of Genzyme General Stock have
been restated to reflect the creation of this new division. Genzyme Surgical
Products is now included as a separate tracking stock of Genzyme Corporation.
<F2>Genzyme Corporation reports earnings per share based on its four tracking
stocks - Genzyme General Division common stock ("Genzyme General Stock"),
Genzyme Molecular Oncology Division common stock ("Molecular Oncology Stock"),
Genzyme Surgical Products Division common stock ("Surgical Products Stock"),
and Genzyme Tissue Repair Division common stock ("Tissue Repair Stock"). The
earnings per share data presented on this schedule reflects the earnings per
share data for net income allocated to Genzyme General Stock. For the nine
months ended September 30, 1998, division net income for Genzyme General was
$96,626 and division net income allocated to Genzyme General Stock on basic
and diluted basis was $1.13 and $1.09, respectively. Division net loss for
Genzyme Molecular Oncology for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 was
$(22,067) or $(5.62) per basic and diluted share of Molecular Oncology Stock.
Division net loss for Genzyme Surgical Products for the nine months ended
September 30, 1998 was $(40,523). For the nine months ended September 30, 1998,
we do not report net loss per share of Surgical Products Stock because no shares
were outstanding prior to June 28, 1999. Division net loss for Genzyme Tissue
Repair for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 was $(31,213) or $(1.55) per
basic diluted share of Tissue Repair Stock.
</FN>
</TABLE>
