Roche on Friday night raised its offer for Genentech and hinted a deal could be done at the new price after extensive contacts with the US biotechnology company’s shareholders.

The Swiss pharmaceuticals group increased its bid for the roughly 44 per cent of the Californian biotechnology group it does not already own to $93 a share from $86.50 and said it would extend its tender for a further eight days. The new price values the deal at more than $45.7bn.