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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 7 June 2004\line \line {\b Roche 
at ASCO: Important data underscore Roche\u8217?s leading position in oncology} \line Outstanding 
study results on Tarceva, Xeloda and MabThera\line \line Roche, in collaboration 
with Genentech, OSI Pharmaceuticals and Biogen Idec, presented impressive data on its portfolio of cancer 
drugs during the 40th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in New Orleans, USA. Over 
100 abstracts and 9 oral presentations covered data in colon/colorectal cancer, breast and lung cancer 
as well as in Non-Hodgkin\u8217?s Lymphoma (NHL): Amongst the data highlights were: \line \line \u8226? 
Tarceva achieves a significant 42.5% improvement in median survival in patients with advanced lung cancer\line \u8226? 
Avastin and Tarceva combination yields initial promising results in recurrent NSCLC and metastatic renal 
cell carcinoma\line \u8226? Xeloda after surgery significantly increases the number of patients 
free from colon cancer by 14% compared to intravenous 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin\line \u8226? MabThera: 
First-line therapy achieves an impressive 95% survival rate in patients under 60 years with aggressive 
NHL and maintenance therapy improves progression free survival in patients with indolent NHL\line \u8226? 
Herceptin data from several studies confirm the drug\u8217?s excellent efficacy in metastatic breast cancer 
and shows promising results in the treatment of early breast cancer\line \line William 
M. Burns, Head of Roche\u8217?s Pharmaceuticals Division said:\u8221? This impressive volume of convincing data 
demonstrates our strength in developing innovative cancer treatments. New breakthrough drugs like Tarceva 
and Avastin represent further milestones in cancer treatment and will give new hope to cancer patients. 
In addition, our established cancer drugs MabThera, Xeloda and Herceptin, have generated very promising 
results for additional use in major new indications. Overall our oncology portfolio now consists of 
five drugs with a proven survival benefit which puts us in an unrivalled position and further underscores 
Roche\u8217?s leadership in oncology.\u8221?\line \line {\b Tarceva: first EGFR-targeted 
anticancer treatment ever to have shown survival benefit in any tumour type } \line Tarceva 
(erlotinib) achieved a significant 42.5% improvement in median survival compared to placebo in patients 
with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Based on these study results Roche will work with 
regulatory authorities around the world to make this medicine available to patients with NSCLC as soon 
as possible. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common form of the disease and accounts for almost 
80 percent of all lung cancer \u8211? it has a very high mortality rate and few treatment options exist. \line \line The 
study, conducted by the Clinical Trials Group of the National Cancer Institute of Canada in collaboration 
with OSI Pharmaceuticals, involved 731 patients with advanced NSCLC who had failed to respond to first 
or second line chemotherapy. The study met its primary endpoint in that patients receiving Tarceva lived 
longer than those in the placebo arm (6.7 months vs 4.7 months){\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 {\super 1} \par}, 
and also met all of its secondary endpoints including improving time to symptomatic deterioration, progression-free 
survival and response rate. In addition, analysis of the results showed a treatment benefit in all subsets 
of patients examined. \line \line According to the World Health Organization, there 
are more than 1.2 million new cases worldwide of lung and bronchial cancer each year, causing approximately 
1.1 million deaths annually. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common form of the disease and accounts 
for almost 80 percent of all lung cancer.\line \line {\b Xeloda: reduces 
significantly the risk of tumours coming back after surgery} \line New data from the X-ACT 
trial (Xeloda in Adjuvant Colon Cancer Therapy), involving almost 2,000 patients demonstrates that Xeloda 
(capecitabine), a targeted oral chemotherapy, could replace the current standard therapy known as the 
Mayo Clinic regimen (intravenous 5-FU/LV) due to its superior efficacy and safety. \line \line The 
global study successfully met its primary endpoint of demonstrating at least equivalent disease free 
survival. More remarkably, the study highlights that Xeloda reduces the risk of tumours coming back 
(relapse-free survival) by an impressive 14% compared to i.v. 5-FU/LV. This means that, each year, if 
treated with Xeloda, nearly 4,000 additional patients worldwide would not hear the dreaded words \u8220?Your 
cancer has come back.\u8221? Roche will submit the study results to global regulatory authorities.\line \line Roche 
presently supports studies of Xeloda on a global level enrolling over 6,000 patients per year which 
will further establish the importance of Xeloda in the fight against cancer. \line \line In 
2000, colorectal cancer was the third most commonly reported cancer with 945,000 new cases worldwide. 
It is estimated that over 50% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer will die of the disease, and 
it is one of the most common cancers in developed countries{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 {\super 2} \par}. 
Chemotherapy following surgery (adjuvant therapy) is one of the most common treatment approaches in 
patients diagnosed with the disease.\line \line {\b Avastin: increased 
survival in colorectal cancer and initial promising results in other tumour types} \line Results 
were presented from Phase I/II clinical studies examining the combination of Avastin (bevacizumab, rhuMAb-VEGF) 
and Tarceva in the treatment of recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and metastatic renal cell 
carcinoma (kidney cancer). These trials are important because patients received no chemotherapy and 
instead were treated with a combination of two therapies targeted at two distinct avenues of growth 
in cancer: angiogenesis and EGFR signaling.\line Investigators presented preliminary results 
from a single-arm phase II in metastatic renal cell carcinoma{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 {\super 3} \par}. 
At the time of analysis, 58 patients were evaluable for response. The authors reported that at eight 
weeks, 21% of patients (12/58) experienced an objective response (defined as a 50% or greater decrease 
in the size of a tumour) to the combined therapy and 66% (38/58) experienced a minor response or disease 
stabilisation. At six months, 67% of the evaluable patients (38/58) had progression-free survival and 
after one year, 50% of patients (29/58) had progression-free survival. In a phase I/II study evaluating 
the combination of Avastin and Tarceva in recurrent non-small cell lung cancer{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 {\super 4} \par}, 
preliminary analysis of 40 patients has shown a median survival of 12.6 months, a median progression-free 
survival of 7 months and an estimated one-year survival of 54 percent. \line \line Traditionally 
patients with relapsed NSCLC are treated with chemotherapy, which may be very poorly tolerated by some 
advanced patients. If randomized, Phase III trials of Avastin plus Tarceva show clinical benefit, this 
combination could provide an important treatment option that does not include chemotherapy.\line \line Recently, 
the{\i  New England Journal of Medicine}  published study results that demonstrate the 
addition of Avastin to standard chemotherapy significantly extends survival in patients with first-line 
(previously untreated) metastatic colorectal cancer{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 {\super 5} \par}. 
The {\i New England Journal of Medicine}  publication of the Avastin pivotal study is 
significant because it is the first published trial of its kind. These data are the first positive results 
from a Phase III trial of a unique therapy that works by preventing the formation of new blood vessels, 
a process called angiogenesis. Following FDA approval earlier this year, Roche is working closely with 
the European regulatory authorities to bring Avastin, the first treatment of its kind, to patients as 
quickly as possible.\line \line {\b MabThera: impressive survival rate 
in aggressive NHL and dramatic improvement in progression-free survival in maintenance therapy in indolent 
NHL} \line {\b Aggressive NHL} : New MabThera data from the MabThera International 
Trial, (MInT{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 {\super 6} \par}) revealed extremely positive 
survival benefits for younger patients with aggressive NHL. The study showed an overall survival of 
95% for those patients who received MabThera (rituximab) in combination with chemotherapy. This compliments 
the impressive survival benefits previously seen in a study of patients over 60 years old. Based on 
these data, MabThera plus chemotherapy should become the standard first-line treatment of patients of 
all ages suffering from this aggressive and life-threatening form of cancer. \line \line In 
December 2003, the MInT study was halted two years earlier than expected following an interim analysis 
of the data that revealed that the pre-specified criteria for closing the study were reached early, 
demonstrated by a statistically significant improvement in time to treatment failure (TTF) in patients 
receiving MabThera plus chemotherapy. \line \line {\b Indolent NHL} : 
Data from a large, randomised phase III trial conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG 
1496{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 {\super 7} \par}) showed that MabThera maintenance 
therapy for two years following an initial course of chemotherapy resulted in a dramatic improvement 
in progression-free survival in patients suffering from indolent Non-Hodgkin\u8217?s lymphoma (NHL). Almost 
twice as many patients were free of disease progression compared to those who received no further treatment 
(73% versus 43%). \line This trial paves the way for its use in patients with indolent NHL, 
who responded well to initial induction therapy. Maintenance treatment with MabThera keeps the disease 
under control and patients free from disease for an extended period of time.\line \line {\b Mantle 
Cell Lymphoma (MCL)} : Other phase III data reveal that previously untreated patients with mantle 
cell lymphoma, an intermediate grade form of non-Hodgkin\u8217?s lymphoma, treated with MabThera plus chemotherapy 
first-line experienced significantly higher remission rates and prolonged time to treatment failure 
compared to chemotherapy alone. Mantle cell lymphoma is a disease that typically affects elderly patients 
and carries a poor prognosis, with a median survival of only three to four years. The study{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 {\super 8} \par}, 
led by Professor W. Hiddemann of the German Low Grade Lymphoma Study Group (GLSG), indicates that MabThera 
plus chemotherapy is a highly effective first-line therapy in treating MCL.\line \line Non-Hodgkin\u8217?s 
lymphoma affects 1.5 million people worldwide. About 55% of NHL patients have the aggressive form of 
the disease, which, if left untreated, can be fatal within six months. The remaining 45% suffer from 
indolent NHL, which is slow developing, but incurable. NHL is one of the fastest growing cancers and 
has grown in incidence by 80% since the early 1970s.{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 {\super 9} \par}\line \line {\b Roche 
in Oncology} \line Within the last five years the Roche Group has become the world\u8217?s leading 
provider of anti-cancer treatments, supportive care products and diagnostics. Its oncology business 
includes an unprecedented four marketed products with survival benefit: Herceptin, MabThera, Xeloda 
and Avastin which has been launched by Genentech in the US recently, treat a range of malignancies such 
as breast cancer, non-Hodgkin\u8217?s lymphoma and colorectal cancer. Other key products include NeoRecormon 
(anaemia in various cancer settings), Bondronat (prevention of skeletal events in breast cancer and 
bone metastases patients, hypercalcemia of malignancy), Kytril (chemotherapy and radiotherapy-induced 
nausea and vomiting) and Roferon-A (leukaemia, Kaposi's sarcoma, malignant melanoma, renal cell carcinoma). 
CERA is the most recent demonstration of the commitment to anaemia management. Roche\u8217?s cancer medicines 
generated sales of more than 6 billion Swiss francs in 2003.\line \line In a recent 
phase III study Tarceva met its primary endpoint of improving overall survival in patients with non-small 
cell lung cancer.\line \line Roche is developing new tests, which will have a significant 
impact on disease management for cancer patients in the future. With a broad portfolio of tumor markers 
for prostate, colorectal, liver, ovarian, breast, stomach, pancreas and lung cancer, as well as a range 
of molecular oncology tests, we will continue to be the leaders in providing cancer focused treatments 
and diagnostics.\line  \line Roche Oncology has four research sites (two in the 
US, Germany and Japan) and four Headquarter Development sites (two in the US, UK and Switzerland).\line \line {\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 and is 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 research and development agreements with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests 
in Genentech and Chugai. \line \line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 All trademarks used or mentioned 
in this release are legally protected.\par}\line \line {\b Further 
information} :\line - www.asco.org (http://www.asco.org)\line \line On 
{\i Tuesday 
8 June}  a Roche analyst conference will be held at ASCO from {\i 1:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. 
CET (Central European Time)} . The briefing will be webcast and presentation slides can be downloaded 
from ir.roche.com (http://ir.roche.com). A replay of the conference will be available on demand at http://ir.roche.com. 
\line \line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 1 Shepherd, F.; A randomized placebo-controlled trial 
of erlotinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following failure of 1st line 
or or 2nd line chemotherapy. A national Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group (NCIC). (Abstract 
#7022), ASCO 2004 \line 2 World Health Organisation. Globocan 2000: Cancer Incidence, Mortality 
and Prevalence Worldwide. 2000\line 3 Phase II Study of Tarceva and Avastin in metastatic 
renal cell carcinoma (Abstract #4502) \line 4 Phase I/II Study of Avastin and Tarceva in recurrent 
non-small cell lung cancer (Abstract #2000)\line 5 Hurwitz H, Fehrenbacher L, Novotny W, et 
al. Addition of bevacizumab (rhuMab-VEGF) to bolus IFL in the first-line treatment of patients with 
metastatic colorectal cancer: results of a randomized Phase III trial. New England Journal of Medicine 
2004;350(23) \line 6 Pfreundschuh M et al. Abstract #6500. Randomized intergroup trial of 
first line treatment for patients <=60 years with diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin\u8217?s lymphoma (DLBCL) 
with a CHOP-like regiment with or without the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab \u8211? early stopping after first 
interim analysis. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), June 2004.\line 7 
Hochster H et al. Abstract #6502. Results of E1496: A Phase III Trial of CVP With or Without Maintenance 
Rituximab in Advanced Indolent Lymphoma (NHL). Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 
(ASCO), June 2004.\line 8 Hiddemann, M et al. Abstract #6501. The addition of Rituximab to 
front line therapy with Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine and Prednisone (CHOP) increases the 
remission rate and prolongs the time to treatment failure (TTF) significantly over CHOP alone in mantle 
cell lymphoma (MCL) \u8211? Results of a prospective randomized trial of the German Low Grade Lymphoma Study 
Group (GLSG). Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), June 2004.\line 9 
World Health Report 2000, World Health Organization, www.who.int.\par}\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}
}