BIOTECHNOLOGY

Genentech Inc. will likely report 1998 earnings of $1.30 a share, beating forecasts. South San Francisco-based Genentech, which is majority-owned by Roche Holding, reported 1997 earnings of $1.02 a share. Analysts had forecast profit of $1.28. Genentech Chief Financial Officer Louis Lavigne Jr. said profit will likely exceed forecasts, thanks to strong sales of Rituxan, a drug the company developed with Idec Pharmaceuticals Corp. and started selling in December 1997.