{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\cocoartf949\cocoasubrtf430
{\fonttbl\f0\froman\fcharset0 TimesNewRomanPSMT;\f1\fswiss\fcharset0 ArialMT;}
{\margl1800\margr1600\margt500\margbl1440}
{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 13 February 2003 \line \line {\b Roche updates 
pricing policy for protease Inhibitor AIDS Drugs within Accelerating Access Initiative} \line No 
profit prices for direct sales of Viracept and Invirase to Least Developed Countries and sub- Saharan 
Africa\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Following ongoing discussions with partners, Pfizer Inc. and Japan Tobacco 
Inc., holding the patents for Viracept (nelfinavir), Roche announces an updated policy for its protease 
inhibitor (PI) drugs Invirase (saquinavir) and Viracept to treat HIV/AIDS across Least Developed Countries 
and sub- Saharan Africa. The policy aims to further increase access to these WHO defined essential medicines 
in countries hardest hit by the AIDS pandemic, with substantial price reductions for Viracept.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Key 
elements of this updated policy include:\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Further reduction in the price 
of the adult formulation of Viracept to the same "no profit" level previously available for 
the paediatric formulation and Invirase \u8211? now available for direct supplies from Roche headquarters 
(HQ) in Switzerland to sub-Saharan Africa and UN defined Least Developed Countries \par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Clear 
pricing for direct supplies from Roche HQ to low income and lower middle income countries - as classified 
by the World Bank \par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Reiteration that Roche will not act against infringement of patents 
Roche holds on HIV/AIDS drugs in sub-Saharan Africa and UN defined Least Developed Countries, nor will 
Roche file patents on new or investigational HIV/AIDS medications in these countries. \par}\line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \u8220?Our 
revised policy demonstrates Roche\u8217?s commitment to the fight against HIV and to further accelerate access 
to care in these African and Least Developed Countries\u8221? stated William M. Burns, Head of Roche Pharma. 
\u8220?The "no profit" prices are designed to facilitate greatest possible access to Invirase and 
Viracept in these hardest hit regions of the world and we will request these governments to eliminate 
tax and duty mark ups for these essential medicines. While our policy has significantly reduced prices 
and removed patent issues as barriers to HIV therapy, it would be wrong to suggest that we can solve 
the problem through these steps alone. Affordability is only one of many barriers to care in developing 
countries.\u8221?\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 This news represents a significant expansion of Roche's policy 
since 2000 when Roche joined the Accelerating Access Initiative to increase access to HIV healthcare. 
As part of that initiative, Roche provided significant reductions on the price of its PIs - with Invirase 
and Viracept paediatric powder available at no profit across sub-Saharan Africa and the world's Least 
Developed Countries. In addition Roche is supporting programmes in the region to develop local expertise 
and provide therapy. \par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \u8220?We are very pleased that our business partners at Roche 
share our commitment to improving access to HIV/AIDS medicines for patients facing the most difficult 
economic and health circumstances,\u8221? said Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Hank McKinnell. 
\u8220?This announcement reconfirms our belief that access to medicines should not be limited by a limited 
income.\u8221?\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b Pricing policy - designed to increase access to essential 
Protease Inhibitors in most needy countries} \line The \u8220?no profit\u8221? prices for all countries 
in sub-Saharan Africa and the Least Developed Countries are ex-factory prices direct from Roche\u8217?s headquarters 
in Basel Switzerland and are available to Governments, Non Profit Institutional Providers of HIV care 
and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in these countries. While the full terms of purchase are posted 
on www.Roche-hiv.com, the prices available for direct supply from Roche HQ mean that additional costs 
for freight, import, duty, taxes, distribution and inventory need to be added. The retail prices within 
these countries will therefore be higher and may vary substantially.\line \line Summary 
of prices available for direct purchases from Roche Basel, valid as of 1st March 2003*\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 
		Available toViraceptInvirase
	
		Price per pack of 270 x 250mg tablets/ CHFPrice per pack of 270 x 200mg capsules/ CHF
	
		Low income countries and Lower middle income countries - as classified by The World Bank300300
	
		All countries in sub-Saharan Africa and all UN defined Least Developed Countries. These are "no profit" prices.90.9095.40
	\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 These 
prices are all quoted ex-factory from Roche Basel in Swiss Francs and will be reassessed on an annual 
basis in line with costs as long as Roche continues to market these particular products. The prices 
are listed as direct sales from Roche Basel as only this way can clear and equitable prices be quoted 
for all the qualifying countries, which would not be possible for national retail prices. \par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Roche 
is currently looking into ways of differentiating the packaging of these reduced priced essential medicines 
to ensure they are only used by those for whom they were purchased and not sold on to other countries.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 In 
low income and lower middle income countries where there is a local Roche affiliate, the company is 
taking action to align Viracept prices from these local affiliates to a maximum of CHF 420 per pack 
of 270 x 250mg tablets. The retail prices within these countries will be higher and may vary significantly 
depending on nationally mandated distribution and retail margins. Local supply conditions across upper 
middle and high income countries remain unchanged.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22  
The "no profit"prices direct from Roche Basel are the lowest prices at which the products 
can be provided in a sustainable 
manner. They do not reflect research or development costs, marketing costs, distribution costs or company 
overheads. In order to achieve the lowest price level for Viracept in line with this "no profit" 
price, Roche\u8217?s licensing partners Agouron/Pfizer and Japan Tobacco, who hold the patent rights of Viracept, 
have agreed to waive all royalties on the sales of the product in qualifying countries.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b Roche 
in HIV } \line Roche is at the forefront of efforts to combat HIV infection and AIDS, 
committed since 1986 to groundbreaking research and development of innovative new drugs and diagnostic 
technology. Saquinavir was the first Protease Inhibitor (PI) and was first introduced by Roche in 1995 
in the US. \par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 As a consequence of Roche's continuous research and development, 
the combination of boosted saquinavir with ritonavir (1000/100 mg twice daily) has shown encouraging 
results in the MaxCmin 1 trial with high efficacy and an excellent safety and tolerability profile. 
Saquinavir/r was approved in the EU in August 2002. Viracept (nelfinavir), another PI is supplied by 
Roche outside the US and Canada. In first-line HIV therapy, Viracept delivers consistent long-term efficacy 
and safety. When used first line, Viracept also allows the subsequent use of both NNRTIs and other PIs 
for most patients due to its unique resistance pattern. \par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b About 
Roche} \line Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world\u8217?s leading 
research-oriented healthcare groups. The company\u8217?s two core businesses in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics 
provide innovative products and services that address prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, 
thus enhancing people\u8217?s health and quality of life. The two core businesses achieved a turnover of 19.3 
billion Swiss Francs in the first three quarters of 2002 and employed about 57,000 people worldwide.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 All 
trademarks used or mentioned in this release are legally protected.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Please 
see http://www.roche-hiv.com (http://www.roche-hiv.com) for full terms and conditions. \par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b Notes 
to editors} \line The following countries are designated by the United Nations as Least 
Developed:\line Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, 
Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial 
Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, 
Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, 
Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sudan, Togo, 
Tuvalu, Uganda, Tanzania, Vanuatu, Yemen and Zambia.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Additional countries in 
sub-Saharan Africa not covered by UN list of Least Developed Countries for which the lowest level, no 
profit prices apply:\line Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mauritius, 
Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Low-income 
economies (http://www.worldbank.org/data/databytopic/class.htm) - source World Bank classification of economies1 \par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Armenia, 
Azerbaijan, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Korea Dem. Rep., Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Mongolia, Nicaragua, 
Pakistan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Lower-middle-income economies{\super 1,2} \line Albania, 
Algeria, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican 
Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, 
Kazakhstan, Macedonia FYR, Marshall Islands, Micronesia Fed. Sts, Morocco, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, 
Peru, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, 
Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey,West Bank and Gaza, Yugoslavia 
Fed. Rep.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 1 Those not otherwise classified as \u8220?Least Developed\u8221? by the United 
Nations.\line 2 Other than those already listed above in the list of sub-Saharan countries 
where no profit prices apply.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Further information on WHO defined 
essential medicines (http://www.who.int/topics/essential_medicines/en/index.html).\par}
{\pard \par}
{\pard\sb180\f1\fs22 {\b F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd}\line 4070 Basel\line Switzerland \par}
{\pard\sb180\f1\fs22 Corporate Communications\line Roche Group Media Relations \par}
{\pard\sb180\f1\fs22 Tel. +41 61 688 88 88\line Fax +41 61 688 27 75\line www.roche.com \par}
}