Genentech brings ops savvy, pipeline to Roche

Despite its pipeline-enhancing objective, the acquisition of Genentech by Roche is showing a nod by the centenarian drugmaker to the upstart's operations talents. Genentech scientists are stepping into key manufacturing jobs for Roche--global manufacturing chief Pat Yang and North American commercial ops chief Ian Clark are two examples.

Similarly, Genentech operations have fared well in a post-merger manufacturing shake-up.  The Swiss drug giant closed its Palo Alto, CA, facility and cut hundreds of jobs in New Jersey.

By a more common metric, Genentech's generated revenue per employee of $1.2 million in 2008 bests Roche's $528,000, according to Bloomberg.

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