Genentech jumps PhRMA's ship

Genentech Inc. announced its departure from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) last week, citing a lack of alignment between its policy objectives and the big pharma trade association's priorities. PhRMA's international activities, including aggressive lobbying of Congress and the White House to enforce intellectual property rights in developing countries, are not relevant to DNA because the company out-licenses all sales outside the U.S., according to Walter Moore vice president of governmental affairs.

Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of DNA majority shareholder F. Hoffmann-La ROCHE Ltd. (SWX:ROCZ, Basel, Switzerland), is staying in PhRMA and presumably should be capable of looking after DNA's international interests...