{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\cocoartf949\cocoasubrtf430
{\fonttbl\f0\froman\fcharset0 TimesNewRomanPSMT;\f1\fswiss\fcharset0 ArialMT;}
{\margl1800\margr1600\margt500\margbl1440}
{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 1 November 2004\line \line {\b At 
its 10th anniversary celebrations Roche China opens new R&D center in Shanghai} \line Roche 
also lays foundation for new production plant in Shanghai\line \line 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\u8217?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.\line \line Chairman and CEO Franz B. Humer 
said: \u8220?Roche is proud to establish its new R&D center in China. This will be Roche\u8217?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\u8217?s 
long-term commitment to China\u8221?.\line \line 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.\line {\b \line High Potent Production 
Plant Foundation Ceremony} \line 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.\line \line 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. \line \line {\b Roche 
celebrates 10th anniversary of Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals Ltd.: contributing to a healthy China 
through Innovation} \line The opening of Roche\u8217?s new R&D center and the foundation 
laying 
of the second production plant were part of the celebration activities marking Roche\u8217?s 10th anniversary 
in Shanghai. In 1926, Roche opened its first subsidiary in Shanghai and returned to the Chinese market 
in 1988. Roche\u8217?s first joint venture \u8211? Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals Ltd. \u8211? 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.\line \line 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. \line \line {\b Roche 
in China} \line 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\u8217?s.\line {\b \line About 
Roche} \line Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world\u8217?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\u8217?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.\line \line {\b Further 
information} \line - Roche in China (http://www.roche.com.cn): www.roche.com.cn (in Chinese)\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}
}