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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 31 January 2006\line \line {\b Tamiflu 
gains approval in Europe for prevention of influenza in children aged 1 to 12 years} \line \line Roche 
announced today that its anti-influenza medicine Tamiflu (oseltamivir) has received approval from the 
European authorities for the prevention of influenza (prophylaxis use) in children aged one to 12 years. 
An approval for the same indication was received in the United States in December last year.\line \line Tamiflu 
is already indicated for the treatment of influenza in adults and children aged 1 year and above and 
for the prevention of influenza in adults and adolescents 13 years and older. Tamiflu is a highly effective 
influenza drug that works by blocking an enzyme on the surface of the virus which prevents it infecting 
other cells in the body. \line \line William M. Burns, CEO Division Roche Pharmaceuticals, 
commented: \u8220?The influenza season is just starting in the Northern Hemisphere and Roche plans to make 
Tamiflu available to prevent influenza in very young children who are particularly vulnerable during 
an outbreak of the disease. This is particularly helpful in the family setting when one member of the 
family catches influenza - using Tamiflu for prevention will stop the spread of the disease to other 
family members.\u8221? \line \line The application was based on results from a subset 
of paediatric patients in a clinical study where Tamiflu was used for the management of influenza in 
households. The study showed that treatment of flu patients with Tamiflu combined with post- exposure 
prophylaxis of other household members is more effective in preventing secondary spread of influenza 
infection in the household than treating the patient alone. The protective efficacy of Tamiflu was the 
same in children aged one to 12 as in the whole population.\line \line {\b Flu's 
Impact on Children } \line Influenza is particularly dangerous for the most vulnerable 
in society and this includes young children and infants. Children younger than two years old are as 
likely as those over age 65 to be hospitalized because of influenza. It is estimated that children are 
three times more likely to get sick with the flu \u8211? on average, one in 10 adults is affected by influenza 
annually, compared with one in three children. Therefore, prevention of influenza in children can have 
a significant impact on the spread of influenza in the household and the whole community.\line \line {\b About 
Tamiflu} \line Tamiflu delivers:\line \u8226? 38 percent reduction in the severity 
of symptoms\line \u8226? 67 percent reduction in secondary complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia 
and sinusitis in otherwise healthy individuals \line \u8226? 37 percent reduction in the duration 
of influenza illness\line \u8226? Tamiflu is shown to provide up to 89 percent overall protective 
efficacy against clinical influenza in adults and adolescents who had been in close contact with influenza-infected 
patients\line \line In children, treatment with Tamiflu delivers:\line \u8226? 
36 percent reduction in the severity and duration of influenza symptoms\line \u8226? 44 percent 
reduced incidence of associated otitis media as compared to standard care\line \line {\b Pandemic 
Stockpiling } \line The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that stockpiling antivirals 
in advance is presently the only way to ensure that sufficient supplies are available in the event of 
a pandemic. Roche has been working closely with WHO and national governments to ensure governments are 
aware of the importance of stockpiling antivirals in the event of a pandemic situation. Roche has received 
and fulfilled pandemic orders for Tamiflu from around 60 countries worldwide. The magnitude of these 
orders varies with some countries, France, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, 
Norway, Switzerland and UK stockpiling or intending to stockpile adequate Tamiflu to cover 20-40% of 
their population. To meet this demand Roche has already significantly expanded its Tamiflu production 
capacity several times, and will continue to take action, both on its own and with several partners, 
to increase production capacity to assist governments with their pandemic preparedness.\line \line {\b Roche 
and Gilead} \line Tamiflu was invented by Gilead Sciences and licensed to Roche in 1996. 
Roche and Gilead partnered on clinical development, with Roche leading efforts to produce, register 
and bring the product to the markets. Under the terms of the companies\u8217? agreement, amended in November 
2005, Gilead participates with Roche in the consideration of sub-licenses for the pandemic supply of 
Tamiflu in resource-limited countries. To ensure broader access to Tamiflu for all patients in need, 
Gilead has agreed to waive its right to full royalty payments for product sold under these sub-licenses.\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. 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 at www.roche.com (http://www.roche.com).\line \line {\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 All 
trademarks used or mentioned in this release are legally protected.\par}} \line \line {\b Additional 
information} \line - Roche 
Health 
Kiosk, Influenza (http://www.health-kiosk.ch/start_grip.htm)\line - About Tamiflu (http://www.roche.com/med_mbtamiflu05e.pdf)\line - 
About influenza (http://www.roche.com/med_mbinfluenza05e.pdf)\line - WHO: Global influenza programme (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/en/)\line - 
WHO: Avian flu (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/avian_influenza/en/)\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}
}