Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group
About
Genentech is one of the founding companies of the biotechnology industry, and this listing covers its presence in Boston as a member of the Roche Group. Founded in 1976 in South San Francisco, the company pioneered the use of recombinant DNA technology to make medicines, producing early biotech drugs such as human insulin and human growth hormone. Its tagline promises breakthrough science, one moment, one day, one person at a time.
Today Genentech discovers, develops and manufactures medicines for serious diseases in areas including cancer, immunology, neuroscience and ophthalmology. It became a wholly owned member of the Swiss health care group Roche in 2009, while keeping its headquarters in South San Francisco. The company is known for cancer medicines such as Herceptin and Avastin, which became widely used treatments for breast cancer and several other cancers.
What to Know
- Genentech was founded by venture capitalist Robert Swanson and biochemist Herbert Boyer.
- Roche first took a majority stake in 1990 before acquiring the rest of the company in 2009.
- The company is a member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
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