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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 30 November 2004\line \line {\b Roche 
employees at almost 60 sites worldwide participate in the Roche AIDS Walk to support children orphaned 
by HIV/AIDS} \line \line On World AIDS Day tomorrow, Roche launches its Global 
Employee 
AIDS Walk to support the children orphaned as a result of AIDS in Malawi. About 500\u8217?000 orphans live 
in Malawi, a peaceful, stable country which is also one of the poorest countries in the world.\line \line Roche 
employees asked how they could make a difference to people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. Today, about 
8000 employees from almost 60 Roche offices in Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Americas have registered 
to participate in the walk. Altogether they will walk or run once around the globe. The event is being 
run to raise funds to establish and support orphan centers across Malawi which provide shelter, food, 
clean water and education for the local orphaned children. This is supported via the work of the European 
Coalition of Positive People (ECPP).\line \line Each participating employee has 
committed to raise money by gaining sponsorship. In addition, Roche has agreed to match the amount of 
money raised by employees taking part in the sponsored walk, greatly increasing the final amount that 
will be donated.\line \line A pilot Roche Employee AIDS Walk took place in 2003 
across three sites in Switzerland and the USA. The event was a huge success with over 1300 participants 
raising over a third of a million Swiss Francs. To date, this money has been used to purchase essential 
items, such as food, cooking utensils and clothes for the children, a borehole to provide clean water 
and to establish a fund for school fees. In addition, investments have been made in creating local facilities, 
such as the building and renovation of accommodation structures, as well as educational equipment, including 
schoolbooks and musical instruments. All efforts are designed to make a visible, long term and sustainable 
difference in the lives of the orphaned children.\line \line Franz B. Humer, Roche 
CEO and Chairman, said: \u8220?I am overwhelmed by the huge involvement of our employees. The high number 
of participating employees sends a strong signal as it demonstrates our commitment to the fight against 
HIV/AIDS. With the funds raised, we can directly improve the lives of thousands of children affected 
by the disease. The contribution of every Roche employee who participates will make a difference\u8221?. \line \line Colin 
Webb, Executive Director, ECPP, comments: \u8220?The lives of the orphaned children with whom we work in Malawi 
will be greatly improved by the efforts of so many caring Roche employees. We were absolutely thrilled 
by both the enthusiasm and the money raised in 2003, and even more grateful that Roche has committed 
to raise money through the Global AIDS Walk in 2004. I know the children would love to thank Roche too\u8221?. 
\line \line The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 38 million 
people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 1\par}}  
Sub-Saharan Africa is by far the worst affected area, with over 25 million people currently living with 
the disease.{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 2\par}}  It is estimated that in 
Malawi 15 per cent of adults are infected with HIV, and that the virus caused over 80,000 deaths in 
2003.{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 3\par}}  However, the devastating 
impact of this disease extends much further than those infected 
\u8211? over half a million children in Malawi have lost their mother, father or both parents as a result 
of AIDS.{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 4\par}}  These orphaned children 
are highly vulnerable to child prostitution and have a lack of 
education and skills, which could help them to build a brighter future.\line \line Moreen 
Williams, a US based Roche employee who has witnessed first-hand the impact of HIV/AIDS in Malawi comments: 
\u8220?The hunger and poverty are visible everywhere. I still feel very emotional today when I talk about 
my time in this country and my visits to the orphan centers.\line I can\u8217?t believe anyone wouldn\u8217?t 
be moved by such an experience and would not want to help.\line The main lesson I learned 
is that anything and everything can help in improving the lives of the orphaned children. I am very 
grateful to have the opportunity to serve such an important cause\u8221?.\line \line In 
addition to raising money to help orphans in Malawi, many participating Roche sites will also donate 
a percentage of the money raised through the Global Employee AIDS Walk to a local HIV/AIDS organization 
in their country. As a result, children globally impacted by HIV/AIDS will benefit. \line \line {\b About 
ECPP} \line The European Coalition of Positive People (ECPP) is a self-help organisation 
of, 
by and for people living with HIV and AIDS, (HIV1 and HIV2), Hepatitis and Tuberculosis. ECPP seeks 
to establish a democratic and accountable patient voice at a European level. ECPP advocates for the 
rights of positive people (patients) as enshrined in the Paris Declaration and implicit in the UN Charter 
on Human Rights.\line \line {\b Roche Policies in Least Developed Countries 
} \line No 
patents for any of Roche medicines - across all disease areas - will be filed in the world\u8217?s Least Developed 
Countries (LDCs), as defined by the UN. Roche will not file patents on new HIV/AIDS medicines in Least 
Developed Countries or sub-Saharan Africa. Roche will not take action in these countries against the 
sale or manufacture of generic versions of HIV medicines for which Roche still holds patents. Generic 
versions of such HIV medicines can therefore be produced in LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa without the 
need for a voluntary or compulsory licence. \line \line Roche makes its HIV protease 
inhibitors \u8211? Invirase (saquinavir) and Viracept (nelfinavir) available at no profit prices for direct 
supplies from Roche Basel to LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa. \line \line Roche no profit 
pricing and patent policies apply to approximately two thirds of all people living with HIV/AIDS in 
the world.\line \line Through its AmpliCare program Roche has been supplying HIV 
viral load tests at the lowest possible price to sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, and countries defined 
by the United Nation as \u8216?least developed\u8217?. AmpliCare focuses on the complete continuum of care \u8211? from 
testing to monitoring to education \u8211? and works to optimize efforts on a region-by-region basis. It includes 
flexible pricing and support of major government and private programs. Capping it off is an education 
program to ensure that local doctors and nurses are fully informed on the latest advances in HIV/ AIDS 
care. \line \line {\b Sustainability and social responsibility - part 
of the Roche tradition} \line Sustainability expresses a principle that has long been 
part of Roche\u8217?s culture and activities; so has social responsibility. Roche is committed to a system 
of corporate governance that conforms to the latest standards and is continuously benchmarking its principles 
and achievements against the industry and best practice. For over a century, the company has been working 
to improve healthcare worldwide and supports humanitarian projects aimed primarily at helping people 
in the world's poorest countries. \line \line Amongst others, Roche is involved 
in the Phelophepa 
train project: Phelophepa is the name of a mobile clinic on rails which has been bringing basic medical 
services to people in remote parts of South Africa since 1994. Roche has been supporting the train, 
which is operated by the state rail corporation Transnet, for the last 10 years. Phelophepa spends 36 
weeks a year travelling around areas with inadequate medical services. To date, the train has reached 
over one million people in remote parts of the country. This method of helping people to help themselves 
has brought about a significant and lasting improvement in the health of people living in the regions 
visited by the train. Phelophepa is thus contributing to sustainable development in rural South Africa.\line \line {\b 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 a world leader in Diagnostics, 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 {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 All 
trademarks used or mentioned in this release are legally protected.\line \line {\b References} :\line  
1 http://www.unaids.org/bangkok2004/GAR2004_pdf/GAR2004_Execsumm_en.pdf\line  
2 http://www.unaids.org/bangkok2004/GAR2004_pdf/GAR2004_Execsumm_en.pdf\line  3 UNAIDS/WHO/Epidemiological 
fact sheets \u8211? 2004 update \u8211? Malawi http://www.who.int/GlobalAtlas/PDFFactory/HIV/EFS_PDFs/EFS2004_MW.pdf\line  
4 UNAIDS/WHO/Epidemiological fact sheets \u8211? 2004 update \u8211? Malawi http://www.who.int/GlobalAtlas/PDFFactory/HIV/EFS_PDFs/EFS2004_MW.pdf\par}\line \line {\b For 
further information:} \line - Roche Pharmaceuticals in HIV (http://www.roche-hiv.com): www.roche-hiv.com\line - 
Roche Diagnostics in HIV (http://www.roche.com): www.roche-diagnostics.com/servicebox/document_center/index.php\line - 
Access to Healthcare: www.roche.com/sus_med.htm\line - European 
Coalition of Postive People (http://www.ecpp.co.uk) (ECPP): 
www.ecpp.co.uk\line - Volounteerism at Roche: www.roche.com/sus_soc_coop_vol.htm ( http://www.roche.com/aidswalk2004.swf)\line - 
Selected pictures:\par}{\pard
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\pard\intbl {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \line Children at the Namiwa Orphans' Resource Centre\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \par} \cell
\pard\intbl {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \par} \cell
\row
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\pard\intbl {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \line The 
Children's Oasis (orphan day-care centre) being built\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \par} \cell
\pard\intbl {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \par} \cell
\row
\trowd\trgaph100\cellx4800\cellx9600
\pard\intbl {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \line The 
three AIDS walk participants who 
raised the most money at the building site of the Children's Oasis (orphan day-care centre). From left 
to right: Cam Greig, Palo Alto; Moreen Williams, Nutley and Claus Crede, Basel\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \par} \cell
\pard\intbl  \cell
\row
\trowd\trgaph100\cellx4800\cellx9600
\pard\intbl {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \line A lesson 
at the under fives orphan 
centre\par}{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 \par} \cell
\pard\intbl  \cell
\row
\trowd\trgaph100\cellx4800\cellx9600
\pard\intbl {\b All 16 pictures and captions for download ( http://www.roche.com/aidswalk_malawi.zip)}  \cell
\pard\intbl  \cell
\row
}
{\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}
}