-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QqeM8wFWID1PAJ6MDwbuoZXQZ3DqlHNYFYpoXgkqQloxvzzo3IkE5MZkONid2Hm+
 DKj9dVqNFGj6EvCnNwzQkw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001404219-08-000020.txt : 20080613
<SEC-HEADER>0001404219-08-000020.hdr.sgml : 20080613
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080613164039
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001404219-08-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080604
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080613
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080613

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENENTECH INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000318771
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				942347624
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 DNA WAY
		CITY:			SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080
		BUSINESS PHONE:		650-225-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 DNA WAY
		STREET 2:		.
		CITY:			SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Tessier-Lavigne Marc
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001437435

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09813
		FILM NUMBER:		08898621

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		650-225-1175

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 DNA WAY
		CITY:			SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94080
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-04</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000318771</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENENTECH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DNA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001437435</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Tessier-Lavigne Marc</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 DNA WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SO SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94080</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, RESEARCH DRUG DISCOVERY</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1159</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>53.23</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-09-23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-09-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24375</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>73.47</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-10-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-10-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>55000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>79.17</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-09-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-09-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>72000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>79.55</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-09-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-09-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>57000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>85.83</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-09-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This stock option vests over four years, with the first 25% of the shares vesting one year from the grant date and 75% of the shares vesting in equal monthly increments over the following three years.    The option may be immediately exercisable with the consent of Genentech.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This stock option vests over four years, with the first 25% of the shares vesting one year from the grant date and 75% of the shares vesting in equal monthly increments over the following three years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: ADAM LAUTNER  For: MARC T TESSIER-LAVIGNE</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----