Genentech jobs out TPO

With a growing stable of young oncology products, the possibility that Genentech Inc. might partner its thrombopoietin protein probably wasn't at the top of any list of moves that an outsider would expect from the company. But by signing a worldwide marketing deal for the platelet booster with Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc., GNE last week said it was meeting two objectives.

Indeed, the company said, the question was not whether GNE could commit funding to TPO's broad development. Instead, GNE views the deal as a way to "maximize value in a competitive area by accumulating substantial returns while using our own resources for other products in our pipeline," said Louis Lavigne, executive vice president and CFO...