ROCKVILLE, Md.--Human Genome Sciences here and French biotechnology company Transgene announced in early March a 10-year agreement to accelerate the development of novel gene therapy drugs. HGS will combine its genomics database with Transgene's broad technology platform of gene delivery systems, the companies said.

Transgene will have rights to exclusively license and sublicense up to 10 genes and to develop, manufacture, and commercialize any resulting gene therapy products worldwide.