Business & Tech
SSF Couple Accused Of Stealing Genentech Trade Secrets
The pair, along with two others, have been indicted on charges of stealing trade secrets.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A former senior scientist at Genentech Inc. and three former colleagues have been indicted on charges of stealing trade secrets from the biotechnology company to give to a rival firm in Taiwan.
Scientist Xanthe Lam, 66, of South San Francisco, worked for Genentech from 1986 until the fall of 2017, according to a grand jury indictment issued Oct. 25 and unsealed on Monday.
The other defendants are her husband, Allen Lam, 68, of South San Francisco, who worked in quality control for Genentech from 1989 to 1998; James Quach, 58, of Daly City, a former Genentech engineer; and John Chan, 29, of San Francisco, a former Genentech worker.
Find out what's happening in South San Franciscofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Allen Lam, Quach and Chan all became consultants for the competitor, JHL Biotech Inc. of Zhubei, Taiwan, at times between 2013 and 2017. JHL was seeking to make drugs known as biosimilars, the equivalent of generic drugs.
The indictment alleges that Xanthe Lam began secretly working for JHL while still employed at South San Francisco-based Genentech and funneled trade secrets from Genentech to JHL Biotech through Allen Lam, Quach and Chan between 2013 and 2017.
Find out what's happening in South San Franciscofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The defendants are charged with conspiring to steal trade secrets, as well as with additional counts of theft of trade secrets, computer fraud or both.
They made initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Joseph Spero on Monday and were released on bond.
Xanthe Lam, Allen Lam and Chan pleaded not guilty to the charges. Quach's arraignment was delayed until Nov. 2 so that his defense attorney can be identified.
The four defendants are due to appear before U.S. District Judge William Alsup, the trial judge assigned to the case, on Nov. 13 for the setting of future court dates.
(Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. Also, download the free Patch iPhone app or free Patch Android app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)
Also See:
- Apple Has Over 600 Job Openings In The Bay Area Right Now
- $770 Million In Unclaimed Money Held By CA
- List Of All ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ Restaurants In Northern California
- The 100 Best Places To Live In California Ranked 2018
- Please Don't Help My Kids
— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock