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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 16. February, 2007\line \line \line {\b Roche 
files application in Europe for Tamiflu 30 and 45 mg capsules} \line Alternative to suspension 
for seasonal and pandemic use in children \line \line Roche has filed an application 
with regulatory authorities in Europe requesting an extension of the current Tamiflu license to include 
smaller capsules of 30 mg and 45 mg in addition to the 75 mg capsule already registered. These lower 
dosage strengths have been developed mainly for use in children for seasonal and pandemic influenza, 
as an alternative to the suspension formulation. Tamiflu small capsules would also be useful in the 
elderly or other adults that have difficulty swallowing the 75 mg capsule. Roche has been granted an 
accelerated review \u160?and is optimistic that EMEA will complete their evaluation by mid-year. \line \line An 
application will also be filed with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US shortly. \line The 
application was filed based on information already available for the 75 mg capsule. The method of manufacturing 
will remain the same and the only change will be the size of the capsule and the amount of the active 
ingredient, oseltamivir, filled into the capsule. \line \line As well as being used 
to manage seasonal influenza, the 30 mg and 45 mg capsules will be an important component in government 
pandemic preparedness. They provide:\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - A better option 
for stockpiling for paediatric 
use, given the longer shelf life compared to paediatric suspension.\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Easier 
and more 
convenient dosing by parents. These unit dosing capsules could also allow accurate preparation of an 
extemporaneous formulation (the contents of the capsules can be used for oral dosing of a solution).\par}\line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 A 
number of governments have stockpiled Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) as an option, particularly 
for children, in the event of a pandemic. However the preparation of the API into a drinking solution 
is logistically more challenging and time consuming than distributing capsules. Therefore, Roche is 
now in the process of offering additional services for encapsulating existing API stockpiles, particularly 
with the new formulations. A number of countries are in discussion regarding this exchange and Finland 
has already exchanged all of its API for capsules.\line \line {\b About 
Tamiflu} \line Tamiflu, an oral neuraminidase inhibitor, is designed to be active against 
all clinically relevant influenza viruses. It works by blocking the action of the neuraminidase enzyme 
on the surface of the virus. When neuraminidase is inhibited, the virus is not able to spread to and 
infect other cells in the body. \line \line {\b Flu's Impact on Children 
} \line Influenza is particularly dangerous for the most vulnerable and this includes 
young children and infants. Children younger than two years old are as likely as those over age 65 to 
be hospitalized because of influenza. It is estimated that children are three times more likely to get 
sick with the flu \u8211? on average, one in 10 adults is affected by influenza annually, compared with one 
in three children. \line \line {\b About Tamiflu (oseltamivir)} \line Tamiflu 
delivers:\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - 38 percent reduction in the severity of 
symptoms\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - 67 percent 
reduction in secondary complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis in otherwise healthy 
individuals \par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - 37 percent reduction in the duration of influenza 
illness\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Tamiflu was shown to provide up to 89 percent overall protective 
efficacy against clinical influenza 
in adults and adolescents who had been in close contact with influenza-infected patients\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - In 
children, Tamiflu delivers:\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - 36 percent reduction in the severity 
and duration of 
influenza symptoms\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - 44 percent reduced incidence of associated otitis 
media as compared 
to standard care\par}\line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b Roche\u8217?s efforts to support 
government 
pandemic stockpiling} \line The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that stockpiling 
antivirals in advance is presently the only way to ensure that sufficient supplies are available in 
the event of a pandemic. Roche has been working closely with WHO and national governments to ensure 
governments are aware of the importance of stockpiling antivirals in the event of a pandemic situation. 
Roche has received and fulfilled pandemic orders for Tamiflu from more than 75 countries worldwide. 
The magnitude of these orders varies with some countries, France, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, 
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and UK stockpiling or intending to stockpile adequate 
Tamiflu to cover 20-40% of their population. Roche has also donated 5.125 million courses of Tamiflu 
treatment to the WHO for international rapid response and regional response to a pandemic influenza 
strain.\line \line {\b Roche and Gilead} \line Tamiflu was 
invented by Gilead Sciences and licensed to Roche in 1996. Roche and Gilead partnered on clinical development, 
with Roche leading efforts to produce, register and bring the product to the markets. Under the terms 
of the companies\u8217? agreement, amended in November 2005, Gilead participates with Roche in the consideration 
of sub-licenses for the pandemic supply of oseltamivir. To ensure broader access to Tamiflu for all 
patients in need, Gilead has agreed to waive its right to full royalty payments for product sold under 
these sub-licenses.\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 diseases, 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 drugs for cancer and transplantation and a market leader in virology. In 2006 
sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 33.3 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division 
posted sales of 8.7 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 75,000 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 at 
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 protected by law.\par}\line \line \line {\b Additional 
information} \line - Roche Health Kiosk, Influenza (http://www.health-kiosk.ch/start_grip.htm)\line - 
About Tamiflu ( http://www.roche.com/med_mbtamiflu05e.pdf)\line - About influenza ( http://www.roche.com/med_mbinfluenza05e.pdf)\line - 
WHO: Global influenza programme (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/en/)\line - WHO: Avian flu (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/avian_influenza/en/)\line \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}
}