I took another very long break from the blog, but I have a good excuse. I work at Genentech, which was recently taken-over/taken-private by Roche. There was a lot of anxiety and lament over the loss of independence, but hopefully things will work out. Roche has certainly made it a priority to retain the talent and keep the work culture as it is.

A bit more about Genentech, in case you didn’t know: The company, founded in 1976 by Bob Swanson, a venture capitalist, and Herb Boyer, a UCSF professor of biochemistry, over a beer, is considered the first biotechnology company in the world. From the very beginning, the company has fostered a unique culture, mixing elements of academia, the excitement of a small start-up, and focused drug development, to great acclaim. Genentech has remained one of the best companies to work for in the Fortune 100 list for a number of years. The company has performed exceptionally well over the past decade, a tribute to all the people who made the company a great place to work, and of course, the leadership, with people like Art Levinson and Sue Desmond-Hellmann, who have inspired and guided it so well.

With this merger, a big chapter in Genentech’s history is now over. The company is now part of the Roche family of companies, and will continue to develop medicines for unmet medical needs. Art will continue to advise Genentech, and Sue has taken up a new job, as the chancellor of UCSF. Genentech’s independence will be missed, but the opportunity to serve patients still remains.