Genentech : Receipt of Proposal From Roche

July 21, 2008 - Roche (SWX: ROG.VX; RO.S; OTCQX; RHHBY), a world-leading healthcare company, announced that it has proposed to acquire the outstanding publicly held interest in Genentech (NYSE: DNA ), a leading biotechnology company, for US$89.00 per share in cash, or a total payment of approximately US$43.7 billion to equity holders of Genentech other than Roche. Roche acquired a majority in Genentech in 1990 and currently owns 55.9% of all outstanding shares...


...Roche's significant investment in Genentech over many years has helped it to focus on innovation and long-term projects, leading to some of the most important breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The transaction will create a unique opportunity to evolve Roche's hub-and-spoke model into a structure that allows us to strengthen the focus on innovation and accelerate the search for new solutions for unmet medical needs... Roche's Press Release - Genentech's Press Release -

Genentech : "AVAiL" Phase III Study of Avastin Plus Chemotherapy in First-Line, Advanced, Non-Squamous, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

april 20, 2008 -- Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) announced an update for the previously reported Roche-sponsored international Phase III clinical study (AVAiL) of Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy, in patients with advanced, non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The update confirmed the clinically and statistically significant improvement in the primary endpoint of progression free survival (PFS) for the two different doses of Avastin studied in the trial (15 mg/kg and 7.5 mg/kg) compared to chemotherapy alone. The study did not demonstrate a statistically significant prolongation of overall survival, a secondary endpoint, for either dose in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone. Median survival of patients in all arms of the study exceeded one year, longer than previously reported survival times in this indication... Genentech's Press Release -

Abbott, Genentech, Roche and OSI, Collaboration on Molecular Test for Lung Cancer Therapy Response

March 7, 2008 -Abbott's FISH Technology Provides Analytical Tool with Potential to Assess Clinical Response to Lung Cancer Treatment in Patients with Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer - Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced that its molecular diagnostics business has entered into an agreement with Genentech, Inc., F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop a gene test to potentially assess the clinical benefit of Tarceva® (erlotinib), an oral tablet indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen. Under the agreement, Abbott will develop a test to detect extra copies of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene using its proprietary fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technology in NSCLC... Abbott's Press Release -

Altor BioScience , Tissue Factor Antagonists from Genentech

February 12, 2008 - Altor BioScience Corporation (Altor) announced it has entered into an agreement with Genentech, Inc. for exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize a class of antibody-based Tissue Factor antagonists. Altor plans on initiating a multi-center, Phase II clinical study later this year, using the lead therapeutic antibody known as ALT-836 for the treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and Acute Lung Injury (ALI)... Altor BioScience's Press Release -