On Oct. 18, 1985, Genentech received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its first medicine, Protropin (somatrem for injection), the second genetically engineered drug and the first recombinant pharmaceutical product to be sold by Genentech.

In the early 1970s, biochemist Herb Boyer and geneticist Stanley Cohen pioneered a new scientific field called recombinant DNA technology. Upon learning about the technology, venture capitalist Bob Swanson placed a call to Boyer and requested a meeting. By the meeting’s conclusion, Genentech was born, and Boyer and Swanson went on to found the company in 1976.