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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 4 April 2007\line \line {\b Roche 
to acquire BioVeris to expand its leading ECL immunochemistry business into new market segments} \line Roche 
to pay US dollars 21.5 per share - total transaction value of ca. 600 million US dollars\line \line Roche 
and BioVeris Corporation announced today that they have signed a definitive merger agreement under which 
Roche will acquire 100% ownership in BioVeris for 21.5 US dollars per share in cash or a total of approximately 
600 million US dollars. This acquisition will allow Roche Diagnostics to expand its immunochemistry 
business from the human diagnostics field into new market segments such as life science research, life 
science development, patient self-testing, veterinary testing, drug discovery, drug development and 
clinical trials. The market for clinical trials is growing at approximately 10% per annum, and with 
these new fields an additional market of close to 400 million Swiss francs opens up for Roche. Today, 
Roche is a leader in immunochemistry, driven by its highly successful Elecsys immunochemistry product 
line, the fastest growing portfolio of Roche Diagnostics\u8217? lab diagnostics business. By acquiring BioVeris, 
Roche will own the complete patent estate of the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technology deployed 
in the Elecsys product line which gives Roche Diagnostics the opportunity to fully exploit the entire 
immunochemistry market.\line \line Severin Schwan, CEO Division Roche Diagnostics, 
said: \u8216?ECL is a highly innovative technology. In comparison with other detection technologies ECL offers 
distinct advantages such as enhanced sensitivity, short incubation times and broad measuring ranges. 
This acquisition ensures that Roche will be able to provide unrestricted access to all customers and 
therefore represents a significant growth opportunity for our immunochemistry business.\u8217?\line \line Samuel 
J. Wohlstadter, Chairman and CEO of BioVeris, said: \u8216?We are pleased that this transaction will deliver 
substantial value to BioVeris shareholders. Given the history between the parties and the scope of Roche\u8217?s 
existing diagnostics business, Roche is the natural buyer for BioVeris. We look forward to working with 
our colleagues at Roche to facilitate a timely close and orderly integration.\u8217?\line The boards 
of directors of BioVeris and Roche have each unanimously approved the terms of the merger agreement, 
and the board of directors of BioVeris has recommended that its shareholders approve the transaction. 
Samuel J. Wohlstadter, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BioVeris, has entered into a voting agreement 
with Roche pursuant to which he has agreed to vote all of his shares, representing approximately 20% 
of the shares of BioVeris entitled to vote, in favour of the transaction. The transaction is subject 
to the approval of BioVeris\u8217?s shareholders, receipt of certain regulatory approvals and other customary 
closing conditions. Subject to satisfaction of these conditions, it is expected that the transaction 
will be closed during the third quarter of 2007.\line \line In connection with Roche\u8217?s 
acquisition of BioVeris, BioVeris will sell to two newly formed entities established by Samuel J. Wohlstadter 
certain assets related to its vaccine research and the development of certain instruments intended for 
point-of-care use. The sale of these assets to affiliates of Samuel J. Wohlstadter has been approved 
by a special committee of the independent directors of the board of BioVeris.\line \line Lehman 
Brothers is serving as financial advisor to BioVeris and also provided a fairness opinion. Houlihan 
Lokey Howard & Zukin is serving as financial advisor to the Special Committee of independent directors 
of BioVeris\u8217?s board and provided a fairness opinion regarding the sale of certain BioVeris assets to 
Samuel J. Wohlstadter. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as BioVeris\u8217?s legal counsel. 
Davis Polk & Wardwell and Foley & Lardner LLP are serving as Roche\u8217?s legal counsel.\line \line {\b About 
Roche\u8217?s Immunochemistry business} \line At 5.7 billion US, Immunochemistry is the largest 
lab diagnostic segment and growing at more than double clinical chemistry. In 2006, Roche\u8217?s immunochemistry 
business grew by 13%, significantly outpacing the market. Up till now Roche\u8217?s strategy has been to focus 
on leveraging the value of the Elecsys immunochemistry technology in the human diagnostics market. However 
an increasing number of Roche\u8217?s in-vitro diagnostics customers are expanding their business into the 
area of clinical trials. The market for clinical trials of close to 400 million Swiss francs is growing 
at approximately 10% per annum, driven by both the increasing number of clinical trials and the larger 
numbers of patients enrolled in these trials. The acquisition of BioVeris will allow Roche Diagnostics 
to participate in this growing market segment. \line \line {\b About BioVeris 
Corporation} \line BioVeris Corporation is a global health care and biosecurity company 
developing proprietary technologies in diagnostics and vaccinology. The Company is dedicated to the 
development and commercialization of innovative products and services for healthcare providers, their 
patients and their communities. BioVeris is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland (USA). Further information 
about BioVeris is available at www.bioveris.com.\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 the global leader 
in biotechnology, Roche contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people\u8217?s health and quality 
of life by supplying innovative products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis 
and treatment of diseases. Roche is the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, the leading supplier of 
drugs for cancer and transplantation and a market leader in virology. It is also engaged in other important 
therapeutic areas including autoimmune, inflammatory and metabolic disease and diseases of the central 
nervous system. In 2006 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totaled 33.3 billion Swiss francs, and 
the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.7 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 75,000 people 
worldwide 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}\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}
}