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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 2 May 2003 \line \line {\b Roche successfully 
acquires Disetronic} \par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Roche\u8217?s public tender offer for Disetronic has been 
accepted. A total of 97.96% of Disetronic\u8217?s shares were tendered to Roche within the offer period, which 
ended on 28 April 2003. This means that the majority of Disetronic\u8217?s shareholders have accepted the 
offer of two Roche non-voting equity securities (Genussscheine) and 670 Swiss francs in cash for each 
publicly held Disetronic share. Roche now holds significantly more Disetronic shares than the 80% specified 
as a condition of the acquisition. The transaction was approved by all the relevant antitrust authorities, 
and all resolutions required for the acquisition to go ahead were passed at an extraordinary general 
meeting of Disetronic\u8217?s shareholders on 23 April 2003. The integration of the new business into the 
Roche Group will therefore commence in the first half of 2003. Disetronic\u8217?s current headquarters in 
Burgdorf, Switzerland, will become an important centre in the Roche Diabetes Care network.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Disetronic 
shareholders who have not yet accepted Roche\u8217?s tender offer can still do so between 5 and 16 May 2003. 
The result of this second offer period will be published on 21 May 2003. If Roche is in possession of 
more than 98% of Disetronic\u8217?s shares by this date, it will apply for the shares to be delisted. Roche 
reserves the right to extend this offer period, if necessary. \par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 After the transaction 
is finalised, Disetronic\u8217?s Infusion Systems division, whose main product line is insulin pumps, will 
become part of Roche Diagnostics\u8217? Diabetes Care unit. The deal will make Roche Diagnostics a leader 
in integrated diabetes management. It is already the world\u8217?s top maker of diabetes monitoring systems. 
By combining the two businesses, Roche will be able to offer comprehensive diabetes management solutions. 
Roche is not acquiring Disetronic\u8217?s other division, Disetronic Injection Systems AG, which was sold 
to Willy Michel, Disetronic\u8217?s founder, Chairman and Delegate to the Board of Directors, effective 30 
April 2003. \par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b Disetronic} \line Disetronic, which 
is based in Burgdorf near Berne, Switzerland, has been a world leader in the research and development 
of insulin pumps and injection systems for the treatment of diabetes since 1984. Its two core businesses 
generated combined sales of 240.1 million Swiss francs in the first nine months of the company\u8217?s 2002/2003 
business year (April to December 2002), representing a year-on-year increase of 14.3% in local currencies. 
The Disetronic Group employs some 1,270 people worldwide. In addition to its core businesses, Disetronic 
is pursuing research projects in continuous glucose measurement and artificial pancreas technology with 
the aim of making life easier for people with diabetes.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b Roche 
Diabetes Care} \line Roche Diabetes Care is one of Roche Diagnostics\u8217? five business areas 
and a pioneer in the development of blood glucose monitoring systems. With total sales in 2002 of 2,511 
million Swiss francs and a growth rate of 14% in local currencies, Roche Diabetes Care is the market 
leader in its segment. Its main products are the Accu-Chek family of blood glucose meters and test strips, 
including Accu-Chek Compact, Accu-Chek Advantage and Accu-Chek Active. Roche Diabetes Care has facilities 
in Mannheim (Germany), Indianapolis (USA) and Ponce (Puerto Rico).\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b Roche} \line Headquartered 
in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world\u8217?s leading innovation-driven healthcare groups. Its 
core businesses are pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is number one in the global diagnostics market, 
the leading supplier of pharmaceuticals for cancer and a leader in virology and transplantation medicine. 
As a supplier of products and services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group 
contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people\u8217?s health and quality of life. Roche employs 
roughly 62,000 people in 150 countries. The Group has alliances and research and development agreements 
with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b Further 
Information} \par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Roche Diabetes Care (http://www.accu-chek.com)\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Disetronic (http://www.roche.ch/standorte/burgdorf_-_disetronic.htm)\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Artificial 
pancreas ( http://www.roche.com/rtdcmannh02d-6.pdf)\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Roche Health Kiosk / Diabetes (http://www.health-kiosk.ch)\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Picture 
Accu-Chek (http://www.roche.com/products/product-list.htm?type=grouped&id=Accu-Chek)\par}\line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 All trademarks used or mentioned in this 
release are protected by law.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Disclaimer\line The exchange offer 
by Roche for shares of Disetronic Holding A.G. is not being made and will not be made, directly or indirectly, 
in the United States. Roche is not soliciting the tender of shares of Disetronic Holding A.G. by any 
holder of such shares in the United States. Any securities of Roche that may be delivered in the exchange 
offer will not be registered under the United States securities act of 1933 and may not be offered or 
sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.\line Copies 
of this release are not being mailed or otherwise distributed or sent in or into or made available in 
the United States. Persons receiving this document (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must 
not distribute or send such documents or any related documents in, into or from the United States.\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}
}