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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 31st July 2006 \line \line {\b Avastin 
and Xeloda 
meet primary endpoints in large Phase III first line metastatic colorectal cancer study} \line \line \line Roche 
announced today that a large, international Phase III study (NO16966) enrolling 2, 035 previously untreated 
metastatic colorectal patients met both primary endpoints.\line Results of the study showed 
that:\line \u8226? The chemotherapy combination Xeloda plus oxaliplatin, called XELOX is as effective 
in terms of progression-free survival (PFS) \u8211? a measure of the time patients live without their disease 
progressing \u8211? as infused 5-FU/leucovorin plus oxaliplatin, called FOLFOX;\line \u8226? The addition 
of Avastin to chemotherapy (FOLFOX and XELOX) significantly improved progression-free survival compared 
to chemotherapy alone. \line Some variability in treatment benefit was observed in subgroups. 
No new safety signals related to Avastin were observed in the trial.\line \line \u8220?This 
is the first time that we have significant data showing that oral Xeloda in combination with oxaliplatin 
is as effective as FOLFOX, demonstrating that XELOX provides a new treatment option for colorectal cancer 
patients\u8221? said Ed Holdener, Head of Global Development at Roche. \u8220?These data again show the benefit 
of adding Avastin to chemotherapy. In this trial Avastin combined with FOLFOX and XELOX improved the 
chance of delaying progression of the disease by 20% in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.\u8221?\line \line Results 
from the study will be submitted to a future international cancer congress.\line \line In 
2004, colorectal cancer was one of the leading cancers and accounted for 13 percent of all cancers.{\super 1}  
It is estimated that more than 394,000 people die worldwide from colorectal cancer each year.{\super 2} \line \line \line {\b About 
the Study} \line The NO16966 trial is a large, international phase III trial which randomized 
2,035 patients and compared as first line colorectal cancer treatment initially:\line \u8226? XELOX 
(Xeloda plus oxaliplatin) vs FOLFOX (intravenous bolus and infusional 5-fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin)\line After 
release of the pivotal Avastin data in colorectal cancer in 2003, the protocol was amended to investigate 
in a 2 by 2 factorial design:\line \u8226? XELOX + placebo vs XELOX + Avastin (7.5 mg/kg q3w)vs 
FOLFOX + placebo vs FOLFOX + Avastin (5.0 mg/kg q2w).\line The primary objectives were to 
answer two questions: firstly whether the XELOX regimen is non-inferior to FOLFOX and secondly whether 
the addition of Avastin to chemotherapy is superior to chemotherapy alone. The secondary endpoints included 
overall survival, overall response rates, and safety profile.\line \line {\b About 
XELOX} \line An 
abbreviation for a type of combination chemotherapy used to treat colorectal cancer; it contains Xeloda 
(capecitabine) plus oxaliplatin. \line \line {\b About Xeloda (capecitabine)} \line Xeloda 
is licensed in more than 90 countries worldwide including the EU, USA, Japan, Australia and Canada and 
has been shown to be an effective, safe, simple and convenient oral chemotherapy in treating over 1 
million patients to date.\line \line Roche received marketing authorisation for 
Xeloda as a first-line monotherapy (by itself) in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (colorectal 
cancer that has spread to other parts of the body) in most countries (including the EU and USA) in 2001. 
Xeloda has also been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA) for adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment of colon cancer in March and June 2005, respectively.\line \line Xeloda 
is licensed in combination with Taxotere (docetaxel) in women with metastatic breast cancer (breast 
cancer that has spread to other parts of the body) and whose disease has progressed following intravenous 
(i.v.) chemotherapy with anthracyclines. Xeloda monotherapy is also indicated for treatment of patients 
with metastatic breast cancer that is resistant to other chemotherapy drugs such as paclitaxel and anthracyclines. 
Xeloda is licensed for the first-line treatment of stomach cancer that has spread, in South Korea.\line \line The 
most commonly reported adverse events with Xeloda include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, stomatitis 
and hand-foot syndrome (palmar-plantar erythrodysesthaesia).\line \line {\b About 
Avastin 
(bevacizumab)} \line Avastin is the first treatment that inhibits angiogenesis \u8211? the growth 
of a network of blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen to cancerous tissues. Avastin targets 
a naturally occurring protein called VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), a key mediator of angiogenesis, 
thus choking off the blood supply that is essential for the growth of the tumour and its spread throughout 
the body (metastasis).\line \line In Europe, Avastin was approved in January 2005 
and in the US in February 2004 for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. 
It received another approval in the US in June 2006 as a second-line treatment for patients with metastatic 
colorectal cancer. The first filing for Avastin in Japan occurred in April 2006 for the treatment of 
metastatic colorectal cancer. More recently, Avastin was filed for the treatment of women with metastatic 
breast cancer in the EU in July 2006, which followed the US May 2006 filing. \line \line Roche 
and Genentech are pursuing a comprehensive clinical programme investigating the use of Avastin in various 
tumour types (including colorectal, breast, lung, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, renal cell carcinoma 
and others) and different settings (advanced and adjuvant i.e. post-operation). The total development 
programme is expected to include over 40,000 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 - 
Roche in Oncology (http://www.roche.com/mboncology-e.pdf)\line - Roche 
Health Kiosk, Cancer (http://www.health-kiosk.ch/start_krebs)\line \line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 References: 
\line 1. 
Boyle P, Ferlay J. Cancer incidence and mortality in Europe, 2004. Annals of Oncology 2005; 16:481-488\line 2. 
Boyle P, Langman JS. ABC of colorectal cancer. Epidemiology. BMJ 2000; 321:805-808\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}
}