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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 30 December 2004\line \line {\b Roche 
support for victims of the tsunami disaster in Asia\line Donation of antibacterial and antibiotic 
medicines } \line \line Roche has decided to donate antibacterial and antibiotic 
medicines for \u8211? depending upon usage \u8211? up to 80,000 patients affected by the tsunami disaster.\line \line The 
donation comes in addition to the immediate medical and financial support given by the local Roche affiliates 
in these countries. The decision is based on a careful assessment of the medical needs and logistic 
hurdles by the local Roche affiliates in close contact with their local authorities and locally active 
aid organisations. \line \line As a first reaction, Roche reserved yesterday all 
available stocks of Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole plus trimethoprim) and Rocephin (ceftriaxone) at the Headquarters 
in Basel to support emergency healthcare delivery in the affected countries in Asia. A total of 220,000 
packs are being donated. The medicines are being made available to an international aid organisation. 
This globally active organisation will co-ordinate the delivery in the affected countries and will ensure 
a responsible usage of the donation.\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.\line Roche 
concentrates its humanitarian aid efforts on developing and maintaining sustainable healthcare delivery 
for needy people in the poorest countries of the world - medical care which takes account of local needs 
and infrastructure and equips communities over the long term to prevent diseases, instead of having 
to cure them. Roche is prepared to contribute by providing medical know-how and, where appropriate, 
its own products and services, as long as the local authorities and any other partners are actively 
committed to making the essential infrastructure available.\line \line \line {\b For 
further information:} \line - Roche\u8217?s social commitment: www.roche.com/sus_soc_coop.htm 
\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}
}