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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 1 April 2005\line \line {\b Xeloda 
wins EU approval for adjuvant therapy in the treatment of colon cancer } \line \line Colon 
cancer patients have access to a new, more convenient and safer treatment option compared to the current 
standard of therapy\line \line Roche announced today that the European authorities 
have approved Xeloda (capecitabine), an innovative oral chemotherapy, to be used as an adjuvant treatment 
(post-surgery) for colon cancer. \u160?Patients will now have the choice of an effective, convenient 
chemotherapy that prolongs cancer free life, with a less serious side effect profile compared to the 
current standard treatment of intravenous 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (i.v. 5-FU/LV). \line \line Adjuvant 
chemotherapy is the standard treatment approach for stage III colon cancer where chemotherapy is given 
in order to destroy any cancerous cells remaining in the body after the tumour has been surgically removed. 
\line \line \u8220?The European approval for Xeloda\u8217?s new indication, again confirms Roche\u8217?s 
commitment to providing innovative solutions for patients, whilst providing medical resource cost savings 
for today\u8217?s healthcare providers\u8221? said William M. Burns, CEO of Roche\u8217?s Pharmaceutical Division. \u8220?For 
the first time colon cancer patients will have access to a unique treatment option that provides an 
effective oral therapy which is well-tolerated and can be taken at home.\u8221? \u160?\line \line  
\u8220?As the European approval decision was based on the landmark X-ACT trial, which showed that Xeloda should 
replace standard intravenous chemotherapy 5FU/LV, physicians and patients can be fully confident that 
they are using a very effective, safe and convenient treatment that is now available.\u8221? \u160?said Professor 
Jim Cassidy, Cancer Research UK Professor of Oncology and Chair of Medical Oncology, Beatson Oncology 
Centre, at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. \u160?\line \line The landmark 
X-ACT (Xeloda in Adjuvant Colon Cancer Therapy) trial which successfully met its primary endpoint, demonstrated 
that Xeloda is at least as effective compared to intravenous 5-FU/LV in terms of disease-free survival 
with a superior reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence (relapse-free survival).{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 1\par}} \line In 
addition, on average, a patient only needed 8 hospital visits when treated with Xeloda compared to 30 
visits if treated with i.v. 5-FU/LV.{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 2\par}}  
This results in significant cost savings, an important advantage for doctors, nurses and pharmacists 
in today\u8217?s healthcare environment.\line \line In 2004 approximately 88,000 patients 
in Europe who had advanced colorectal or breast cancer benefited from Xeloda. Based on the new indication 
approximately 55,000 colon cancer patients a year can now also be treated with this effective and convenient 
oral cancer treatment. Global sales in 2004 were 534 million Swiss francs and are expected to accelerate 
in 2005.\line \line {\b About Roche } \line Headquartered 
in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world\u8217?s leading research-focused healthcare groups in the 
fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative products and services for the 
early detection, 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 
2004 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 21.7 billion Swiss francs, while the Diagnostics 
Division posted sales of 7.8 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.\par}\line \line \line {\b Further 
Information:} \par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Presentation of 
the X-ACT trial (http://www.asco.org/ac/1,1003,_12-002511-00_18-0026-00_19-009534-00_21-004,00.asp): \line www.asco.org/ac/1,1003,_12-002511-00_18-0026\line -00_19-009534-00_21-004,00.asp, 
\u8220?Capecitabine vs. bolus 5-FU/leucovorin as adjuvant therapy for colon cancer (the X-ACT study): positive 
efficacy results of a phase III trial\u8221?\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Colorectal 
cancer (http://www.roche.com/pages/downloads/company/pdf/mbg180205ce.pdf): \line www.roche.com/pages/downloads/company/pdf/\line mbg010405c.pdf\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Xeloda 
in colorectal cancer (http://www.roche.com/pages/downloads/company/pdf/mbg180205ce.pdf): \line www.roche.com/pages/downloads/company/pdf/\line mbg010405xc.pdf\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Xeloda (http://www.roche.com/pages/downloads/company/pdf/mbg180205ce.pdf):\line www.roche.com/pages/downloads/company/pdf/\line mbg010405x.pdf\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Roche 
in oncology (http://www.roche.com/mboncology-e.pdf): \line www.roche.com/pages/downloads/company/pdf/\line mboncology05e_a.pdf\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Roche (http://www.roche.com): 
www.roche.com\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Broadcast quality B-roll (http://roche.synapticdigital.com) including 
doctor and patient interviews is available for download via www.thenewsmarket.com\par}\line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 References: 
\line 1. \u160?Reddy, G. Efficacy of adjuvant capecitabine compared with bolus 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin 
regimen in Dukes C colon cancer: results from the X-ACT trial. Clin Colorectal Cancer, July 2004: 87-88.\line 2. 
\u160?McKendrick, J.J, Cassidy, J, et al. Capecitabine (x) is resource saving compared with i.v. bolus 
5-FU/LV in adjuvant chemotherapy for Dukes\u8217? C colon cancer patients: Medical resource utilization (MRU) 
data from large phase III trial (X-ACT). Journ of Clin Oncol, 2004 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings (Post 
Meeting Edition). Vol 22, No 14S (July supplement), 2004: 3578\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}
}