Lonza's cell culture biologic manufacturing facility in Singapore is to be bought by Roche subsidiary Genentech Singapore, declared Swiss drugmaker Roche and drugs industry supplier Lonza on Monday.

The facility carries a purchase price of $290 million plus up to a further $70 million in milestone payments. The facility would also be merged with Genentech Singapore's existing biologic manufacturing plant.

The transaction resulted largely due to Genentech Singapore exercising an option to purchase the facility.

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday it is conducting a safety review of the asthma drug Xolair after receiving reports of increased risk of heart attack, abnormal heart rhythm, heart failure, and stroke among patients who use it.

The drug Xolair (omalizumab) made by Genentech and co-marketed by Novartis, given by injection, is approved for use by adults and adolescents (12 and older) with moderate to severe persistent asthma whose symptoms are not well controlled with inhaled corticosteroids.