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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
Basel, 5 December 2006\line \line {\b New nanomechanical method 
for detecting disease- and treatment-relevant genes} \line \line Innovative 
technique offers new possibilities for matching drug treatments more closely to patient needs\line \line Researchers 
from the National Centre of Competence in Research at the newly established Swiss Nanoscience Institute 
(SNI) in Basel, together with Roche scientists, have developed an innovative method for the rapid and 
sensitive detection of disease- and treatment-relevant genes. The results of this research are published 
today in the December issue of the journal {\i Nature Nanotechnology} .\line \line Ulrich 
Certa, Head of Functional Genomics at the Roche Centre for Medical Genomics, comments: \u8220?Our research 
results show that these new nanomechanical sensors can be used for the direct and continuous monitoring 
of patients\u8217? response to a given treatment. This promising new technology takes us a step nearer to 
tailoring treatment directly to patients\u8217? needs, hopefully with ever fewer adverse effects.\u8221?\line \line Many 
different body processes are involved in disease and its treatment. Gene activities are regulated in 
varying ways depending on heredity, partly accounting for the often differing individual responses to 
a given drug. What helps one patient may have no effect on another, or may even have adverse effects.\line \line The 
new method detects active genes directly by measuring their transcripts (messenger ribonucleic acid 
[mRNA]), which represent the intermediate step and link to protein synthesis. Short complementary nucleic 
acid segments (sensors) are attached to tiny silicon cantilevers which are only 450 nanometres thick 
(one nanometre is a millionth of a millimetre) and therefore react with extraordinary sensitivity. Binding 
of the targeted gene transcript to its matching counterpart on one of the cantilevers results in optically 
measurable mechanical bending.\line \line In the paper now published the researchers 
cite the example of a tumour cell line in which interferon treatment activates an important gene for 
controlling cell growth to show that this nanomechanical method can be used for rapid gene transcript 
detection.\line \line Being so sensitive, this new type of nanomechanical sensor 
has no need to label or copy the target molecules, thus greatly increasing measurement precision. Because 
the method also works within minutes, it could be used as a real-time sensor for continuously monitoring 
biomedical processes. An array of different gene transcripts can even be measured in parallel by aligning 
appropriately coated cantilevers alongside each other like the teeth of a comb.\line \line The 
new method complements current molecular diagnostic techniques such as the gene chip and real-time PCR. 
It could be used as a real-time sensor for continuously monitoring various clinical parameters or for 
detecting rapidly replicating pathogens that make prompt diagnosis essential.\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 Additional 
information} \line - Natrue Nanotechnology Journal (http://www.nature.com/nnano/index.html)
{\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}
}