Roche considering divesting $1.9 bln cancer data startup, FT reports
ReutersRoche considering divesting $1.9 bln cancer data startup, FT reports
Aug 7 (Reuters) – Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche (ROG.S) is considering divesting cancer data specialist Flatiron Health, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Roche had paid $1.9 billion for New-York based Flatiron Health in 2018 to speed its development of cancer medicines and support its efforts to price them based on how well they work.
The pharmaceutical company is now working with Citigroup to assess options for Flatiron, including divesting the business or selling part of the company to a partner that could help run the business, the FT report said.
Although Roche has kept Flatiron as a separate legal entity, its ownership has deterred some rival drugmakers from doing business with the start-up which has hurt the unit’s sales, according to the report.
Roche executives who originally played a part in the deal have largely departed, leaving Flatiron with fewer advocates at the Swiss company, the report added.
