By Donald Zuhn —

As we reported yesterday, Roche announced on Monday that it had made an offer to acquire Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. for $75 per share, or approximately $3 billion.  Today, Roche announced that it has commenced a cash tender offer for all outstanding shares of Ventana common stock.  The terms of Roche’s offer were filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2007, and can be obtained here.

Ventana’s patent portfolio includes at least 46 U.S. patents and 36 U.S. patent application publications.