Roche to Sell Genentech’s Cancer Drug

Swiss drug giant Roche Holding agreed to sell Herceptin, a breast cancer treatment made by Genentech Inc., with sales potential of about $200 million, outside the U.S. Roche said it will pay South San Francisco-based Genentech, of which it owns 66%, a “substantial” fee and further payments based on development costs. Herceptin, which is not yet on sale, is expected to generate non-U.S. sales of about $200 million within three years, analysts said. Roche said it expects Herceptin to get marketing approval from the Food and Drug Administration in November, and has asked for approval from the European Union. Genentech shares rose 31 cents to close at $68.25 on the NYSE; Roche’s American depositary receipts rose $1.25 to $99.25.