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Investor Update

Basel, 27 October 2006

Roche’s oral polymerase inhibitor shows strong antiviral activity in chronic hepatitis C patients

R1626 demonstrates greatest hepatitis C viral load reduction of all polymerase inhibitors

Roche’s new investigational drug for hepatitis C has been shown to have a strong antiviral effect. The drug, which is known as R1626, has achieved clinically significant reductions in viral load in chronic hepatitis C patients infected with the difficult-to-cure genotype 1 virus.

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Furthermore, the drop in hepatitis C viral load achieved in patients receiving R1626 is the largest seen for this class of antiviral treatments called polymerase inhibitors. These findings were announced today at the annual meeting for the 57th American Association for the Study of the Liver (AASLD) in Boston.
“The results from this phase I study show us that the polymerase inhibitor R1626 is very effective in inhibiting hepatitis C viral replication. In fact, the drop in hepatitis C virus is the best that we have seen with all the polymerase inhibitors studied so far,” said Dr. Stuart Roberts, Director of Gastroenterology at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia and lead investigator of the study. “Adding R1626 to current therapies could potentially improve cure rates in hepatitis C.”

As a result of these outstanding virological results, Roche has commenced a phase II trial to evaluate how well R1626 works in combination with the current standard of care, Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD)) and Copegus (ribavirin).

About the study presented at AASLD
In this phase I study, 47 patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C were randomised to receive either oral treatment with R1626 twice daily or placebo for 14 days with 14 days of follow up.  The final results presented at AASLD included patients who received the higher doses of R1626 at 3,000 mg or 4,500 mg twice a day.

The study found:

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  • Clinically significant reductions in serum hepatitis C virus RNA (a measure of how much virus is in the blood) of 1.2, 2.6 and 3.7 log reduction with R1626 at the doses of 1,500 mg,  3,000 mg and 4,500 mg, respectively.
  • R1626 at all doses tested had a good safety profile and no patient was prematurely withdrawn. Reversible mild to moderate haematological changes were observed with increasing doses.

Defining treatment for a new generation
“Roche is fully committed to developing the best treatment options so that as many patients as possible have the best chance for a cure,” said Dr Friederike Zahm, Life Cycle Leader for R1626 at Roche in Basel, Switzerland. “The development of R1626, ongoing research with Pegasys and extensive partnerships with other companies such as InterMune, Pharmasset and Maxygen underscores our long-term commitment to finding effective therapies to benefit patients with chronic hepatitis C.”

About the phase IIa R1626 clinical trial
Roche have commenced a multicentre phase II trial that is enrolling patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C who have not previously received treatment.  Patients are randomised into four treatment groups assessing R1626 with Pegasys or Pegasys plus Copegus, versus the standard of care. Following the first 4 weeks of treatment, all patients will receive Pegasys 180 microg subcutaneously every week plus Copegus 1,000-1,200 mg daily for another 44 weeks, making the total treatment duration of 48 weeks.

The objectives of the study are to evaluate the 4 week safety and antiviral effect of combining R1626 with Pegasys and/or Copegus. The study is currently enrolling patients in the US. Patients and healthcare providers interested in the trial can find more information at www.roche-trials.com.

About Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C, the most common chronic blood-borne infection, is transmitted primarily through blood or blood products. Hepatitis C chronically infects 170 million people worldwide,

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with an additional three to four million people newly infected each year.  It is a leading cause of cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure, despite being potentially curable. The future of hepatitis C therapy is likely to involve combinations of new small-molecule antiviral drugs and pegylated interferon-based treatment, like Pegasys.

About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.  As a supplier of innovative products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people’s health and quality of life.  Roche is a world leader in diagnostics, the leading supplier of medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market leader in virology. In 2005 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 27.3 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.2 billion Swiss francs.  Roche employs roughly 70,000 people in 150 countries and has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. Additional information about the Roche Group is available on the Internet (www.roche.com).

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are legally protected.

References:
1  Roberts S, Cooksley G, et al. Results of a Phase 1B, Multiple Dose Study of R1626, a Novel Nucleoside Analog Targeting HCV Polymerase in Chronic HCV Genotype 1 Patients.  Presented at the American Association for the Study of the Liver (AASLD). Oct 30, 2006.
2  Roberts S, Cooksley G, et al. Results of a Phase 1B, Multiple Dose Study of R1626, a Novel Nucleoside Analog Targeting HCV Polymerase in Chronic HCV Genotype 1 Patients.  Presented at the American Association for the Study of the Liver (AASLD). Oct 30, 2006.
3  Global surveillance and control of hepatitis C. Report of a WHO Consultation organized in collaboration with the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board, Antwerp, Belgium. J Viral Hepat 1999;6(1):35-47.