Roche sues Biocon over proposed breast-cancer drug copy

Adds response from Genentech spokesperson in bullet 3

By Blake Brittain

July 30 (Reuters) - Roche's ROPC.S Genentech has sued Indian biopharmaceutical company Biocon BION.NS in New Jersey federal court, alleging its proposed biosimilar of Genentech's blockbuster breast-cancer drug Perjeta would infringe Genentech's patents.

• Genentech asked the court in a lawsuit filed on Wednesday to block Biocon from making or selling its biosimilar.

• A Biocon spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit on Thursday, citing pending litigation.

• "We respect the legal process and will defend our patents," a Genentech spokesperson said.

• Biosimilars are versions of biologic drugs that are comparable to generics of traditional pharmaceuticals. Unlike traditional drugs, complex biologic drugs are made from living cells and cannot be copied exactly.

• Genentech's biologic Perjeta was Switzerland-based Roche's sixth-best-selling drug last year, earning the company nearly CHF 2.97 billion ($3.67 billion) worldwide, according to a company report.

• Genentech separately filed a complaint at the U.S. International Trade Commission in February seeking to block Biocon from importing its biosimilar, but withdrew the complaint in June after Biocon said the imports were not for commercial distribution.

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington)