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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 24 March 2004 \line \line {\b Xenical: 
European Commission approves label extension} \line Xenical can reduce risk for developing 
type 2 diabetes\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Roche announced today that the European Commission 
has approved an extension to the prescribing label for its weight loss medication Xenical to include 
new information that Xenical can reduce the risk for developing type 2 diabetes. In addition, new information 
on four year data on weight loss, long-term safety and tolerability has also been approved.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 A 
positive opinion for the label extension was received from the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products 
(CPMP) in January this year. The decision was based on the results of the landmark XENDOS study, which 
showed for the first time that the weight loss medication Xenical can significantly reduce the risk 
of developing type 2 diabetes1. The study also confirmed a significant and sustained weight loss over 
the long term.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 XENDOS is the largest and longest study of 
a weight loss medication, treating 3304 patients for four years with Xenical plus lifestyle changes, 
or lifestyle changes alone. It is also the first study to assess whether treatment with the weight loss 
medication, Xenical, can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study showed that losing 
weight with Xenical reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 37% compared with losing weight with 
lifestyle changes alone and by 52% in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT or pre-diabetes). 
Compared to lifestyle changes alone, Xenical treatment produced significantly greater long-term weight 
loss and improvements in cardiovascular risk factors (including blood pressure and lipids). The study 
also confirmed that Xenical has a long-term safety profile that is unmatched in the field of weight 
loss.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \u8220?The decision to extend Xenical\u8217?s label is an important 
step forward as it provides physicians with an effective strategy for managing excess weight and delaying 
or preventing type 2 diabetes.\u8221? commented William M. Burns, head of the pharmaceutical division at Roche.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b About 
Type 2 diabetes and excess weight} \line Health experts have warned of a global epidemic 
of diabetes caused by a rise in overweight and obesity. There are currently 120-140 million people worldwide 
with type 2 diabetes, and if trends continue, this number is predicted to double in the next 25 years.2 
More than 90% of all people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.3 Because of the severe health 
and cost implications of type 2 diabetes, organisations such as the International Diabetes Federation 
(IDF) have called for increased efforts to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes. The IDF estimates 
that 314 million people worldwide, or 8.2% of the global population, have impaired glucose tolerance, 
a state that often precedes type 2 diabetes.4\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Excess weight 
is well recognised as the most important modifiable risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. 
A number of recent studies have shown that lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) have a dramatic effect 
on delaying or preventing the development of type 2 diabetes.5, 6 The XENDOS study represents an important 
step forward in the evolution of diabetes prevention studies through the study design and the outcomes 
that were measured.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b About Xenical} \line Xenical 
is the only available weight loss medication that works locally in the gut to prevent dietary fat absorption 
by around 30% to effectively promote weight loss. It is an effective therapy that not only helps patients 
lose weight, but also helps them maintain their weight loss. Xenical is well tolerated and unlike appetite 
suppressants, it does not act on the brain. Since it was first marketed in 1998, there have been more 
than 18.5 million patient treatments with Xenical worldwide. Xenical is licensed for weight management 
in over 140 countries around the world. \par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b About 
Xenical Weight Management Programmes} \line Roche has developed Xenical Weight Management 
Programmes (WMPs) for healthcare professionals to use with their patients. The programme aims to help 
patients set and reach realistic weight goals while modifying their dietary intake and behaviour in 
the long-term. The programmes are individually tailored to help people achieve their weight loss goals, 
and maintain weight loss, through healthy eating, physical activity and pharmacotherapy.\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Roche 
provides the WMP free of charge in around 50 countries worldwide to offer additional support to patients 
treated with Xenical. Recent data demonstrated that patients enrolled in Xenical WMPs can significantly 
improve the levels of weight loss achieved and can increase their overall satisfaction and compliance 
with treatment.\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 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. 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 65,000 people in 150 countries. The Group has alliances and R&D agreements with numerous 
partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai.\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 {\b Further 
information:} \par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - www.managingyourweight.com (http://www.managingyourweight.com)\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - www.health-kiosk.ch (http://www.health-kiosk.ch)\par}\line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b R} {\b eferences:} \line 1. 
Torgerson JS, et al. XENDOS: a randomised study of orlistat as an adjunct to lifestyle changes for the 
prevention of type 2 diabetes in obese patients. Diabetes Care 2004;27(1):155-61\line 2. World 
Health Organization. Health Topics. http://www.who.int/health_topics/diabetes_mellitus/en/\line 3. 
Colditz GA, Willett WC, Rotnitzky A, Manson JE. \u8220?Weight gain as a risk factor for clinical diabetes 
mellitus in women\u8221?. Ann Inter Med (1995). 122:481-486.\line 4. International Diabetes Federation. 
New Diabetes Figures. http://www.idf.org/home/index.cfm?node=1054\line 5. Tuomilehto et al. 
Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS). NEJM, May 3, 2001, Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus by changes 
in lifestyle among subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. \line 6. Diabetes Prevention 
Program (DPP). NEJM, February 7, 2002. Reduction in the incidence in type 2 diabetes with lifestyle 
intervention or metformin.\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}
}