Media Release

Basel, 25 May 2004

Roche will not exercise its opt-in right for Basilea’s novel antibiotic

Roche announced today that it will not opt-in for Basilea’s novel antibiotic BAL5788. Basilea retains the global development, marketing and manufacturing rights for BAL5788.

Roche has a full and strong pipeline of phase II and III compounds and will focus its resources on the successful development of these high priority drugs. Roche remains a major shareholder of Basilea.

About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’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’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.