Basel, 1 November 2004

At its 10th anniversary celebrations Roche China opens new R&D center in Shanghai
Roche also lays foundation for new production plant in Shanghai

Roche, one of the leading suppliers of prescription medicines in China, has officially opened its new R&D center at Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park in Shanghai. The inauguration was part of the festivities for Roche’s 10th anniversary in China on Saturday. The new research centre, which is part of the Roche global R&D operation, will focus on medicinal chemistry research for lead generation and optimisation. Initially, it will be staffed with 40 scientists.

Chairman and CEO Franz B. Humer said: “Roche is proud to establish its new R&D center in China. This will be Roche’s fifth Pharma research site and the knowledge exchange with our existing research sites in Europe and the US will support our mission to develop and produce innovative, clinically differentiated medicines. We can rely on a wealth of intellectual expertise and with our financial investments, we want to underline Roche’s long-term commitment to China”.

The center will work with JiangJiang High Tech Park to promote the district to become a leading biomedical research based epicenter of drug research and discovery in China.

High Potent Production Plant Foundation Ceremony
Roche also announced that it is building a second high tech manufacturing facility in Shanghai to produce the cancer medicine Xeloda and the transplantation medicine CellCept for the Chinese market as of 2006. The production facility is designed fully to international standards, complying with GMP regulations and safety, health and environmental principles.

Both Xeloda and CellCept are major medicines in the Roche portfolio. Xeloda is a tumour-activated oral chemotherapeutic agent used to treat breast and colorectal cancer. CellCept, used as a foundation for immuosuppression, helps transplant patients to live a longer and healthier life.

Roche celebrates 10th anniversary of Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals Ltd.: contributing to a healthy China through Innovation
The opening of Roche’s new R&D center and the foundation laying of the second production plant were part of the celebration activities marking Roche’s 10th anniversary in Shanghai. In 1926, Roche opened its first subsidiary in Shanghai and returned to the Chinese market in 1988. Roche’s first joint venture – Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals Ltd. – was set up in 1994. This was followed by Roche Diagnostics (Shanghai) Ltd. in 2000. Over the past ten years, both Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals and Roche Diagnostics Shanghai have achieved significant success in China.

The rapid development of the Chinese economy and the bright prospects of the Chinese market are highly valued by Roche. In the past few decades, the investment environment has been remarkably improved. The Chinese government is paying increased attention to the protection of intellectual property right.

Roche in China
The Roche Group has four companies in China, representing its core pharmaceuticals and diagnostics businesses. Located in Hong Kong and Shanghai, they employ some 1300 people. In collaboration with the two Chinese National Human Genome Centers, Roche is conducting genetic epidemiology studies to identify genetic predispositions to diseases such as diabetes or Alzheimer’s.

About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading research-intensive healthcare groups. Its core businesses are pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative 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 is number one in the global diagnostics market, the leading supplier of medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market leader in virology. In 2003, the Pharmaceuticals Division generated 19.8 billion Swiss francs in prescription drug sales, while the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 7.4 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 65,000 people in 150 countries and has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai.

Further information
- Roche in China: www.roche.com.cn (in Chinese)