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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 29 May 2006\line \line {\b Herceptin 
added to 
hormonal therapy prolongs progression-free survival for patients with advanced HER2-positive breast 
cancer} \line \line Roche announced today that data from a new study show that 
the 
addition of Herceptin (trastuzumab) to the hormonal therapy, Arimidex (anastrozole), increases the length 
of time that patients live without their cancer progressing (progression-free survival) for patients 
whose advanced breast cancer is hormone receptor-positive, as well as HER2-positive. \line \line Hormone 
receptor-positive breast cancer affects two-thirds{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 1\par}}  
of patients with breast cancer and is typically 
considered \u8216?lower-risk\u8217? due to successful treatment with hormonal therapies. However, up to a 
quarter of these breast cancers are also HER2-positive,{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 2\par}}  
an aggressive form of the disease that 
requires special and immediate attention because the tumours are fast-growing and there is a higher 
likelihood of relapse. This was the first randomised study in this specific subset of \u8216?co-positive\u8217? 
patients, whose prognosis has been uncertain thus far.\line \line Eduard Holdener, 
Global Head of Roche Pharma Development said: \u8220?We are glad to learn from this study that the combination 
therapy offers a new treatment regimen for these breast cancer patients who suffer from an extremely 
aggressive form of the disease. We will now work with trial investigators to analyse the full set of 
data from this trial, and submit it for presentation at an upcoming medical meeting in the second half 
of 2006. We will start preparations to file these data with health authorities around the world.\u8221?\line \line To 
date, over 230,000 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer have been treated with Herceptin worldwide. 
Herceptin consistently benefits patients regardless of whether it is given in the early stage or advanced 
settings, or whether it is in combination with chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or as a single agent. 
\u160?\line  \line {\b About the Study} \line The TAnDEM 
study, conducted by 
Roche is a randomised, Phase III trial, which evaluated Herceptin plus Arimidex versus Armidex alone 
as first-line therapy (or second line hormonal therapy) in postmenopausal women with advanced (metastatic), 
HER2-positive and hormone receptor-positive (ER-positive and/or PR-positive) breast cancer. Enrolment 
to the trial began in 2001, and 208 HER2 and hormone receptor co-positive patients were enrolled at 
134 sites in 25 countries across the world. Arimidex was scheduled at a dose of 1 mg daily until progression. 
Herceptin was administered in 2 mg/kg weekly doses (after an initial loading dose of 4 mg/kg) until 
disease progression.\line \line According to the analysis, the primary efficacy 
endpoint was met, showing that patients who received Herceptin had a statistically significant improvement 
in progression-free survival. \line Overall safety data in both arms of the trial were acceptable 
given the known safety profile of each of the drugs in the advanced breast cancer setting. Patients 
in this study will continue to be followed for any side-effects.\line \line {\b About 
breast cancer and Herceptin} \line Eight to nine percent of women will develop breast 
cancer 
during their lifetime, making it one of the most common types of cancer in women.{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 3\par}}  
Each year more 
than one million new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed worldwide, with a death rate of nearly 400,000 
people per year. \line \line In HER2-positive breast cancer, increased quantities 
of the HER2 protein are present on the surface of the tumour cells. This is known as \u8216?HER2 positivity.\u8217? 
High levels of HER2 are present in a particularly aggressive form of the disease which responds poorly 
to chemotherapy. Research shows that HER2-positivity affects approximately 20% \u8211? 30%{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 4\par}}  
of women 
with breast cancer. \line \line Herceptin is a humanised antibody, designed to target 
and block the function of HER2, a protein produced by a specific gene with cancer-causing potential. 
In addition to its efficacy in the early-stage breast cancer setting, Herceptin also has demonstrated 
improved survival in the advanced (metastatic) setting, where its addition to chemotherapy allows patients 
to live up to one-third longer than chemotherapy alone.{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 5\par}}  
\line \line Herceptin 
received approval in the European Union in 2000 for use in patients with advanced (metastatic) breast 
cancer, whose tumours overexpress the HER2 protein. In addition to being indicated for use in combination 
with docetaxel as a first-line therapy in HER2-positive patients who have not received chemotherapy 
for their metastatic disease, it is also indicated as a first-line therapy in combination with paclitaxel 
where anthracyclines are unsuitable, and as a single agent in third-line therapy. Herceptin also received 
approval in the European Union in May 2006 for use in early-stage HER2-positive patients following standard 
chemotherapy. \line \line Herceptin is marketed in the United States by Genentech, 
in Japan by Chugai and internationally by Roche. Since 1998, Herceptin has been used to treat over 230,000 
HER2-positive breast cancer patients worldwide.\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 {\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 - About Genentech (http://www.gene.com)\line - Roche 
in Oncology (http://www.roche.com/mboncology-e.pdf)\line - Roche Health Kiosk 
on cancer (http://www.health-kiosk.ch/start_krebs)\line - Video clips (http://roche.synapticdigital.com) - in 
broadcast standard, 
free of charge\line \line \line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 References:\line 1 
\u160?K. C. Chu and W. F. Anderson. Rates for breast cancer characteristics by estrogen and progesterone 
receptor status in the major racial/ethnic groups. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 74: 199-211, 
2002.\line 2 \u160?F. Penault-Llorca, A. Vincent-Salomon, M. C. Mathieu, et al. On Behalf 
Of The Esther Study Group. Incidence and implications of HER2 and hormonal receptor overexpression in 
newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer (MBC). American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Meeting 
Meeting Abstracts, 23: 764, 2005. \line 3 \u160?World Health Organization, 2000.\line 4 
\u160?Harries M, Smith I. The development and clinical use of trastuzumab (Herceptin). Endocr Relat 
Cancer 9: 75-85, 2002.\line 5 \u160?Extra JM, Cognetti F, Maraninchi D et al. Long-term survival 
demonstrated with trastuzumab plus docetaxel: 24-month data from a randomised trial (M77001) in HER2-positive 
metastatic breast cancer. Abstract #555, American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 
2005.\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}
}