Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche has struck a deal with Swiss chemicals group Lonza, in which its subsidiary Genentech Singapore will acquire Lonza's cell culture biologic manufacturing facility in Singapore.

The deal is valued at 360 million dollars.

The acquired facility, which has 80,000 litres of fermentation capacity, is hoped to generate Avastin bulk drug substance.

Avastin helps in treating diseases such as colon, lung and breast cancer. In 2008, global sales of Avastin fetched 5.2 billion Swiss francs to the company.

Roughly 230 Lonza employees will be moved to Genentech Singapore.