¿ Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco, said it had a 20 percent increase in net income and a 21 percent increase in earnings per share in the first quarter of 2001 compared to the same quarter last year. This is exclusive of the ongoing impact of the 1999 redemption of Genentech's special common stock and accounting changes. Net income for the first quarter increased to $91.2 million, or 17 cents per share, compared to $76 million in 2000's first quarter, or 14 cents per share. It had $391.9 million in product sales, an increase of 38 percent from the $283.2 million in sales in 2000's first quarter. Sales of Rituxan, discovered and co-promoted by IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp., of San Diego, increased 102 percent in the first quarter to $172.1 million, up from $84.1 million in the first quarter of 2000. Sales of Herceptin increased to $81.4 million compared to $68.7 million in 2000's first quarter. Activase and Tenecteplase sales totaled $52.1 million, growth hormone product sales were $55.5 million, and Pulmozyme sales were $29.9 million. Research and development expenses increased to $136.3 million, compared to $111.4 million in 2000.

¿ United Therapeutics Corp., of Silver Spring, Md., said the FDA agreed to extend for up to 90 days the priority review period for the new drug application for Remodulin (formerly UT-15) for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. The extension will allow the FDA to review additional information submitted by United Therapeutics to support the NDA.