Roche wins reprieve as Novartis biosimilar delayed in U.S.

By Ben Hirschler and Michael ShieldsLONDON/ZURICH (Reuters) - Roche has won a reprieve from an expected wave of cheaper versions of its biotech cancer drugs as U.S. regulators knocked back a biosimilar form of rituximab from Swiss rival Novartis.Novartis's Sandoz unit said its copy of Roche blockbuster Rituxan -- used to treat blood cancers and certain immunological diseases -- had received a so-called complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).