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 facility, which has 80,000 liters of fermentation capacity, is predicted to produce Avastin bulk drug substance.

"Avastin, which works by starving tumors of blood supply, is made by Roche's recently acquired Genentech unit, is used to treat lung, colon and breast cancers, and had annual global sales of 5.2 billion Swiss francs ($4.92 billion) in 2008," said a source close to matter.

Genentech Singapore will give employment to nearly 230 Lonza employees, while the total employees will be nearly 325. The plant, which has an extension option of up to 20 additional acres, is basically situated on 10,000 acres of land.