Roche chairman optimistic on Genentech deal-paper

ZURICH, March 8 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG (ROG.VX) is optimistic its raised bid for U.S. biotech company Genentech DNA.N will succeed, Swiss Sunday newspaper Sonntagszeitung quoted Roche's chairman as saying.

"The improved offer will lead to the final break-through," said Roche Chairman Franz Humer, in the report.

On Friday, Roche raised its bid to buy out the minority shareholders of Genentech Inc DNA.N by 7.5 percent to $93 a share and extended its tender offer by a week. [ID:nL6634471]

The sweetened offer for the 44 percent of the U.S. biotech company Roche does not already own takes the cost of the deal to $45.7 billion.

Humer told the newspaper the deal was not overburdening Roche, the world's largest maker of cancer drugs.

"Just with the free cash flow we can reduce the debt within a few years," he was quoted as saying.

(Reporting by Sven Egenter; editing by Simon Jessop)