{\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, 15 April 2005\line \line {\b Roche 
clinical trial registry and results database launched on www.roche-trials.com} \line \line High 
degree of transparency to enhance communication between Roche, patients and doctors\line \line Within 
only three months after deciding to create an electronic database, Roche is launching a public clinical 
trial registry and results database using an independent host, CenterWatch. On www.roche-trials.com (http://www.roche-trials.com) 
information on Roche\u8217?s clinical trials can be accessed by anyone, anywhere, with no password restrictions. 
This site is designed to give patients and healthcare providers ready access to information they need, 
in terms they can understand.\line \line Ed Holdener, Head of Global Pharma Development 
at Roche, said: \u8220?We are proud to go live with our publicly accessible protocol registry and clinical 
trial results database today. Transparency has always been and continues to be a priority for us. In 
January, we announced our plans to have an independent host for the database and since then, we selected 
CenterWatch, a company with a wealth of experience in the area of data management and the publication 
of clinical trial information. So for the first time ever, there is now a global and publicly accessible 
database, containing comprehensive information about Roche\u8217?s clinical trials\u8221?. \line \line Roche 
expects that the huge task of publishing data from more than 30 medicines, on a product by product level 
from a large number of global and local trials, will take approximately a year. Roche will also continue 
to contribute information to established databases (i.e. www.clinicaltrials.gov (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov))\line \line {\b Information 
that can be found in the electronic database} \line Starting with Fuzeon and Bondronat, 
clinical trial information will be added in a staged approach on the databases and will ultimately include 
protocol information and results from all Phase II to Phase IV clinical trials completed after 1 October, 
2004. In addition, data from all Phase II to Phase IV clinical trials for medicines first marketed after 
1 October, 2002 will be included retrospectively. The clinical trial registry and results database will 
also include interventional clinical studies from Roche Diagnostics.\line \line {\b Roche 
approach and possible industry solution} \line Roche is taking a leadership role in the 
industry\u8217?s efforts to ensure transparency with its global approach, which is consistent with the information 
disclosure principles published earlier this year by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry 
Associations (EFPIA).\line The Roche strategy may model an industry-wide solution. Roche would 
support and participate in a future industry solution that provides a public database in which all companies 
can publish both national and international protocol information and trial results. Roche would be delighted 
if this independent solution would lead other pharmaceutical companies to use the CenterWatch repository 
to register ongoing clinical trials and report results of trials. \line CenterWatch is a leader 
in web design and experienced in the implementation of websites for clinical trial listings and clinical 
trial results, and already has an established reputation as an independent source that the public trusts 
for clinical trial listings and results. Having CenterWatch host Roche\u8217?s clinical trials databases provides 
the widest possible exposure, and makes it easy for the public to obtain important information in this 
area.\line \line {\b Strict adherence to regulations of clinical trials} \line Roche 
works to ensure that all its activities are performed in accordance with ethical and regulatory requirements. 
Moreover, Roche is strongly committed to verifying adherence to compliance policies. Adequate and ongoing 
peer review is a key prerequisite for maintaining high ethical standards in Roche\u8217?s clinical trials 
and development activities.\line In addition, Roche adheres to the \u8220?Declaration of Helsinki\u8221?, 
a statement developed by the World Medical Association on ethical principles to provide guidance to 
physicians and other participants in medical research involving human subjects. Roche also strictly 
follows the rules of good clinical practice (GCP), which ensure the protection of patients\u8217? safety and 
rights.\line \line {\b About CenterWatch} \line Thomson 
CenterWatch (CW) is part of Thomson Healthcare and Scientific, probably best known as publishers of 
the PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) and Current Drugs. Thomson Healthcare and Scientific is a division 
of the Thomson Corporation, a Canadian based information services provider. For over a decade, CW has 
been the leading provider of clinical trials information to healthcare professionals and the patient 
community. Their market intelligence data and editorial content is highly respected among global pharmaceutical 
industry professionals. They publish eight top-selling guidebooks covering training issues for today\u8217?s 
clinical research professionals. In 1995 CW launched the www.centerwatch.com (http://www.centerwatch.com) web 
site and began publishing listings of clinical trials seeking patient volunteers. The oldest and largest 
trial database on the web, the Clinical Trials Listing Service\u8482? now lists nearly 15,000 industry-sponsored 
clinical trials, as well as an additional 20,000 clinical trials sponsored by the NIH and NCI. In 2004 
alone, nearly 10 million people will visit the site directly or access information through their vast 
network of content partners.\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. Additional information about the Roche Group is available on the 
Internet (www.roche.com (http://www.roche.com)).\line \line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 All trademarks 
used or mentioned in this release are legally protected.\par}\line \line {\b Further 
information:} \line - Roche and clinical trials: www.roche.com/sus_res_clin\line - 
Clinical trials: www.roche.com/sci_events_facets_clinical\line - EFPIA 
position statement (http://www.efpia.org): www.efpia.org/4_pos/sci_regu/Clinicaltrials2005.pdf\line - Declaration 
of Helsinki (http://www.wma.net/e/policy/b3.htm): www.wma.net/e/policy/b3.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}
}