Genentech, UC in Talks to Settle Lawsuit

Genentech Inc. and the University of California are in talks to settle a nine-year lawsuit over claims that the world’s No. 2 biotech company violated patents in developing growth hormone drugs, people familiar with the situation said. A resolution would avoid bringing the matter to a second trial. A six-week trial ended in June with a deadlocked jury. South San Francisco-based Genentech is majority-owned by Swiss drug maker Roche Holding. UC has sought $1 billion in damages related to royalties it believes it should have gotten from the sale of the growth hormones Protropin and Nutropin, two of Genentech’s top-selling products.

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