Roche and Lonza announced that Genentech Singapore Pte. Ltd., a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group, elected to exercise an option to purchase from Lonza its cell culture biologic manufacturing facility in Singapore. The facility, which is mechanically complete, will be merged with Genentech Singapore's existing biologic manufacturing facility. Lonza will continue to build up its own large-scale mammalian manufacturing plant in Singapore, which will come on-stream in 2011.

The Singapore manufacturing facility is acquired for a purchase price of USD 290 million plus additional milestone payments of USD 70 million. It is expected to produce Avastin (bevacizumab) bulk drug substance, has 80,000 liters of fermentation capacity and is located on approximately 10 acres with an option for up to 20 additional acres. Genentech Singapore’s existing 1,000-liter E.coli manufacturing facility is expected to receive FDA licensure for bulk drug production of Lucentis (ranibizumab) injection in 2010. The combined Singapore operations will play a key role in Roche's global manufacturing network.

"We are very pleased to exercise our option to purchase from Lonza the biologic manufacturing facility that Lonza built and to combine it with our current production plant in Singapore. As part of our globally integrated Genentech and Roche manufacturing network, this world-class operation in Singapore will play a major role in bringing important medicines to the patients who need them," said Jim Miller, vice president and general manager, Genentech Singapore.

“We are happy to have built and handed over a state-of-the-art facility to Genentech and to close the project both on time and on budget. We believe Lonza successfully proved its engineering capabilities and its unique know-how in starting up and operating complex biopharmaceuticals manufacturing facilities,” said Mike Brown, VP Operations for Lonza Biologics Singapore. “The handover of the facility to Genentech went smoothly and was characterized by mutual respect and professionalism. Lonza will continue to operate its own 4 x 20,000 liters mammalian manufacturing and process development facility and Cell Therapy unit in Singapore, to come on stream in 2011.”