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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 31 March 2006\line \line {\b New 
Bonviva Quarterly Injection Approved in Europe for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis} \line \line First 
Quarterly Injection Will Bring Benefits of Bisphosphonate Therapy To More Women\line \line Roche 
and GlaxoSmithKline announce that European marketing authorisation has been granted for the highly effective 
quarterly intravenous (I.V.) injection of the osteoporosis medication Bonviva (ibandronic acid). \line \line Bonviva 
Injection is the first ever injection in its class for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal 
women to be approved in the EU. This European approval swiftly follows the approval in the US by the 
FDA earlier this year.\line \line William M. Burns, CEO Division Roche Pharma said: 
\u8220?We are delighted that Bonviva Injection has received EU approval. Physicians throughout Europe will 
now be able to treat more women with a bisphosphonate, taking advantage of the proven bone strengthening 
benefits of this therapeutic class.\u8221?\line \line Bonviva is already approved as an 
effective and well-tolerated{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 1\par}}  once-monthly 
oral tablet in over 38 countries worldwide. Oral bisphosphonates are the most commonly prescribed treatment 
for postmenopausal osteoporosis and recent studies show women* prefer once-monthly to once-weekly oral 
bisphosphonate treatment, finding it more convenient and easier to take over a long period of time.{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 2,3\par}} \line A 
minority of women may not be able to take their bisphosphonate orally. They may, for example, be unable 
to stay upright for the required length of time, or have swallowing problems.{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 \u8224?\par}}  
For these women, Bonviva Injection offers an effective way of gaining the proven bone strengthening 
benefits of bisphosphonate therapy.\line \line Andrew Witty, President of EU Pharmaceuticals, 
GSK said: \u8220?Bonviva is now the only treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis offering physicians and 
patients throughout Europe both a tablet and injection option. Oral bisphosphonate therapy is the gold 
standard and studies have shown the majority of women prefer taking once-monthly oral Bonviva to a weekly 
treatment. However, for those women who are unable to take oral bisphosphonates, Bonviva Injection provides 
an effective and well-tolerated option.\u8221?\line \line Bonviva Injection is presented 
as a 3mg/3ml solution in a pre-filled syringe and is administered once every three months by a healthcare 
professional as an intravenous injection over a 15 - 30 second period. \line \line European 
Union marketing authorisation for Bonviva Injection is based on results from a 2 year study called DIVA 
(Dosing IntraVenous Administration).{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 4\par}}  
DIVA investigated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Bonviva Injection compared to the once-daily 
oral formulation of Bonviva and found it to be highly effective and well-tolerated.{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 4\par}}  
Previous studies have shown that once-daily oral ibandronate reduced the risk of vertebral fracture 
in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis by 62% when taken over three years.{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 5\par}}  
\line \line {\b About DIVA } \line DIVA (Dosing IntraVenous 
Administration) is a large international study that enrolled more than 1,300 women with postmenopausal 
osteoporosis aged between 55 and 80 years of age. DIVA compares the safety, efficacy and tolerability 
of the once-daily oral ibandronate 2.5mg regimen with two novel I.V. regimes: 2mg every two months and 
3mg every three months.\line \line The two-year findings from the study were presented 
at the 2005 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, November 12-17 2005.{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 4\par}}  
For patients who received the approved 3mg ibandronate injection every 3 months dosing regimen or daily 
oral ibandronate: \par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Bone mineral density (BMD or bone 
mass) at the lumbar spine increased more in the I.V. dosing group than in the daily oral dosing group 
(6.3 percent vs. 4.8 percent). \par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Substantial increases in bone density 
at the hip (a major non-vertebral site) were also observed, and were also greater in the I.V. group 
than in the oral daily regimen (3.1 percent vs. 2.2 percent). \par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Clinically 
relevant decreases in bone breakdown (as measured by the biochemical marker of bone resorption, serum 
CTX) were observed in all treatment groups. \par}\line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 The I.V. 
regimen was well tolerated. The most common side effects for I.V. ibandronate were bone, muscle or joint 
pain, flu-like symptoms and headache.\line \line {\b Regulatory Status} \line Bonviva 
Injection is indicated for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, in order to reduce 
the risk of vertebral fractures. Efficacy on femoral neck fractures has not been established. Boniva 
Injection was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on 6th January 2006.\line \line {\b Roche/GSK 
Collaboration } \line In December 2001, F Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche) and GlaxoSmithKline 
(GSK) announced their plans to co-develop and co-promote Boniva for the treatment and prevention of 
postmenopausal osteoporosis in a number of major markets, excluding Japan. The Roche/GSK collaboration 
provides expertise and commitment to bringing new osteoporosis therapies to market as quickly as possible. 
\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 2005 sales by the Pharmaceuticals 
Division totalled 27.3 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.2 billion 
Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 70,000 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 {\b About 
GSK} \line GSK, one of the world\u8217?s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare 
companies, is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better 
and live longer. \line \line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 All trademarks used or mentioned in 
this release are legally protected.\line \line * Who had tried both monthly and 
weekly treatments\line {\super \u8224?}  Oral bisphosphonates are taken according 
to a very strict treatment regime which involves remaining upright and not eating, drinking (except 
water) or taking other medications for a period of time before and after the therapy has been taken.\par}\line \line {\b Further 
information} \line - Roche Health Kiosk, Osteoporosis (http://www.health-kiosk.ch/start_osteo.htm)\line - 
About GSK (http://www.gsk.com)\line \line \line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 {\b References} \line 1. 
Cooper C, Delmas PD, Felsenberg D, Hughes C, Mairon N et al. Two-year efficacy and tolerability of once 
monthly oral ibandronate in postmenopausal osteoporosis: the MOBILE study. Abstract presented at the 
Annual European Congress of Rheumotology, Vienna, Austria 8-11 June 2005.\line 2. BONIVA (ibandronate 
sodium) INJECTION [prescribing information] Roche Laboratories Inc., Nutley, NJ; 2006.\line 3. 
Emkey R, Zaidi M, Lewiecki EM, Burdesk A, Mairon N et al. Two-year efficacy and tolerability of intermittent 
intravenous ibandronate injections in postmenopausal osteoporosis: the DIVA study. Abstract presented 
at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, 12-17 November 2005, San Diego, USA.\line 4. 
Chesnut C, Skag A, Christiansen C, Recker R, Stakkestad J et al. Effects of Oral Ibandronate Administered 
Daily or Intermittently on Fracture Risk in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis. Journal of Bone & Mineral 
Research 2004; 10 (8): 1421-1429\par}\line \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}
}