{\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, 12 October 2006\line \line {\b Avastin 
approved in US for first-line treatment of most common form of lung cancer} \line \line First 
treatment to extend survival of previously untreated patients beyond one year\line \line Roche 
announced that following yesterday\u8217?s FDA approval in the US, Avastin will now benefit patients suffering 
from advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)* - the most common form of this devastating disease. 
The approval is based on the pivotal Phase III trial data (E4599) which showed a strong survival benefit 
for patients treated with Avastin in combination with a platinum-based chemotherapy (carboplatin plus 
paclitaxel) compared to chemotherapy alone.\line \line \u8220?Avastin is the first therapy 
ever to extend survival for advanced lung cancer patients beyond one year,\u8221? said Eduard Holdener, Head 
Global Pharma Development at Roche. \u8220?The FDA approval marks a significant step forward for lung cancer 
patients in the US. We are committed to working with regulatory authorities around the world in order 
to make it available to more patients fighting this severe disease.\u8221?\line \line In 
the EU, Avastin in NSCLC was filed with health authorities in August this year. This application was 
based on the E4599 data along with preliminary data from the ongoing \u8220?Avastin in Lung\u8221? (BO17704) trial, 
which is exploring the combination of Avastin with another platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin/gemcitabine).\line \line After 
colorectal and breast cancer, lung cancer is the third type of cancer in which the anti-angiogenic agent, 
Avastin, has demonstrated significant survival benefit. Avastin was approved in the EU in January 2005 
and in the US in February 2004 for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer 
in combination with intravenous 5-FU-based chemotherapy. It received another approval in the US in June 
2006 as a second-line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with intravenous 
5-FU-based chemotherapy. The first filing for Avastin in Japan occurred in April 2006 for the treatment 
of advanced colorectal cancer. More recently, Avastin was filed for the treatment of women with advanced 
breast cancer in the EU in July 2006. \line \line {\b About the E4599 
study} \line The FDA approval is based on results from the E4599 study; a randomised, 
controlled, multi-centre Phase III trial. 878 patients with locally advanced, metastatic or recurrent 
NSCLC with histology other than predominant squamous cell were enrolled into the trial. The results 
showed:\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Patients receiving Avastin at a dose of 15 
mg/kg every three weeks plus paclitaxel and carboplatin had a 25 percent improvement in overall survival, 
compared to patients who received chemotherapy alone. Median survival was extended beyond one year for 
patients treated with Avastin (12.3 vs. 10.3 months).{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 1\par}}  
\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Pulmonary haemorrhage (haemoptysis) cases were observed in 2.3% 
of the patients receiving Avastin plus chemotherapy.\par}\line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b About 
the \u8220?Avastin in Lung\u8221? trial (BO17704) } \line BO17704 is a randomised, controlled, multicenter 
international Phase III trial which has completed enrolment with 1,043 patients with previously untreated 
advanced NSCLC to explore two doses of Avastin (7.5 or 15 mg/kg every 3 weeks) in combination with a 
platinum doublet (gemcitabine/cisplatin) chemotherapy. The primary objective of the study is to demonstrate 
superiority in progression-free survival of both Avastin containing treatment arms versus control. Interim 
data from this study was used to support the Roche filing of E4599 in Europe in August this year. The 
final data are expected in 2007.\line \line {\b About Lung Cancer} \line Lung 
cancer accounts for 1 in 3 and 1 in 4 cancer-related deaths in men and women, respectively. NSCLC is 
the most common form of the disease and accounts for more than 80 percent of all lung cancers, with 
histology other than predominant squamous cell as the most common subtype accounting for approximately 
60 percent of NSCLC cases. Sadly, the majority of NSCLC cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage when 
the cancer is inoperable or has already spread to another part of the body. In spite of the use of chemotherapy 
as the first-line treatment option, less than five percent of people with advanced NSCLC survive for 
five years after diagnosis and most die within twelve months{\super {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 2\par}} .\line \line {\b About 
Avastin} \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 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 ie 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, while 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 \line *Unresectable 
locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).\par}\line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 1 
\u160?Sandler AB, Gray 
R, Bhramer J, et al. Randomized phase II/III Trial of paclitaxel (P) plus carboplatin (C) with or without 
bevacizumab (NSC # 704865) in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): 
An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Trial \u8211? E4599. ASCO 2005, Abstract LBA4.\line 2 
\u160?Wilking N and Jonsson B. A Pan-European comparison regarding patient access to cancer drugs. Karolinska 
Institute in collaboration with Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm, Sweden, 2005.\line \line All 
trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.\par}\line \line \line {\b Additional 
information} \line - Lung Cancer (http://www.roche.com/med_mbackgrlungcancer.pdf)\line - Roche 
in Oncology (http://www.roche.com/mboncology-e.pdf)\line - Roche Health Kiosk, Cancer (http://www.health-kiosk.ch/start_krebs)\line - Avastin (http://www.avastin-info.com)\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}
}