HEALTH & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Genentech Claim Dismissed: In a strongly worded ruling, an International Trade Commission administrative judge has dismissed Genentech Inc.’s complaint against two firms seeking to market a rival human growth hormone drug in the United States, citing misconduct by Genentech. South San Francisco-based Genentech had sought to block Denmark-based Novo Nordisk and Bio-Technology General Corp. from getting U.S. approval to market a growth hormone drug that is sold in 50 other countries. But the administrative judge dismissed Genentech’s complaint, citing the company’s “inexcusable failure” to make available internal documents in the case. The decision brings Novo Nordisk and Bio-Technology General closer to marketing their growth hormone drugs in the United States, which would compete with Genentech’s Protropin growth hormone, a drug that helps short children grow taller.