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Published online 4 February 2009 | Nature 457, 648 (2009) | doi:10.1038/457648a
News in Brief
Roche launches hostile bid for Genentech shares
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This latest move by Roche to acquire Genentech stock at a much reduced price seems to me to be pretty poor policy by the Swiss drug giant. The offer by Roche sends a message to Genentech that their potential to produce innovative therapeutics is severely undervalued. I would think the Roche offer might be counter-productive in that it could lower the morale of all who work at Genentech to be seen as to be so undervalued. This could backfire on Roche since those very researchers who innovate and create the wonderful new drugs that support the otherwise pretty dismal Roche pipeline might seek to question their allegiance to a company that uses such blatant fiscal tactics.