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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 26 April, 2007\line \line {\b Roche 
update on 
Tamiflu for pandemic influenza preparedness} \line - Further research to combat the H5N1 
virus\line - 
Manufacturing capacity now significantly outstripping demand\line \line \line Roche 
announces several new research initiatives to further study the use of Tamiflu against the evolving 
H5N1 avian influenza virus and outlined the future production strategy for Tamiflu. Roche is holding 
a media briefing today, the conference will start at 10.00am Basel time and is also available through 
live audio webcast: www.roche.com/med_events_mb0407\line \line {\b Research 
activities 
} \line As one of the most important medicines currently available to fight both seasonal 
and 
pandemic influenza, Tamiflu is in the front line of national pandemic defense strategies. Roche continues 
to research on the optimal use of Tamiflu in collaboration with Universities, Health Institutes and 
others. These research initiatives include:\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Pre-clinical 
virology studies, looking 
at different H5N1 strains to optimize the dose of Tamiflu.\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Avian 
influenza registry 
study, to collect available clinical and virological data, to characterize the virus and the use of 
Tamiflu \par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Post-exposure prophylaxis case studies, collecting 
retrospective and prospective 
data on Tamiflu\u8217?s ability to prevent influenza illness\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - High 
dose (150mg twice daily) 
versus standard dose study (75mg twice daily) in collaboration with the National Institute of Health 
in the USA in both seasonal and pandemic influenza.\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Long 
term prophylaxis (26 weeks) 
against H5N1 for workers in essential activities, e.g. hospitals. Monitoring for resistance 
of the influenza virus to Tamiflu.\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Investigation on the feasibility 
of an intravenous 
formulation.\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Registration activities for a lower dose capsule 
to facilitate storage 
and administration for young children.\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - This is in addition 
to continuing to study the 
role and established safety record in seasonal influenza outbreaks\par}\line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b Production 
strategy} \line Due to Roche\u8217?s efforts the global manufacturing network for Tamiflu can 
produce 
in excess of 400 million treatments annually and has been tested accordingly. This network includes 
eight Roche sites and 19 external manufacturing partners located in 9 different countries around the 
world. As supply significantly exceeds current Tamiflu orders, Roche is tailoring its production schedule 
to this current demand. \line \line William M. Burns, CEO Division Roche Pharma, 
said: "The manufacturing expansion went to plan and Roche together with external partners now have 
the ability to produce more than 400 million courses of Tamiflu a year. To date we have had orders from 
governments amounting to about 215 million treatments in total. Today we can satisfy significant additional 
orders from governments and corporations and unless the demand picks up Roche will be tailoring its 
production schedule accordingly. These measures include maintaining a buffer stock at all times while 
remaining in close contact with our manufacturing partners to respond speedily to a surge in demand.\u8221?\line \line {\b Production 
capability } \line Based on current government orders Roche will start tailoring the Tamiflu 
production schedule while maintaining stock of intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredient along 
the supply chain. Gearing up production to full capacity will be triggered by one of two events\par}Roche 
inventories of final active ingredient (oseltamivir) or key intermediates drop below target levels 
WHO declares pandemic has evolved to phase 4 (human to human 
transmission){\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Roche 
has taken a number of additional steps to help prepare for a possible pandemic. \par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Roche 
donated more than 5 million treatment courses to the World Health Organization for emergency use. 
\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Roche sub-licensed the patent for oseltamivir to companies 
in India, China and Africa 
to provide oseltamivir in these regions.\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Roche established 
a special price for government 
orders and implemented a further price reduction for low income countries. \par}\line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b Roche\u8217?s 
efforts to support government pandemic stockpiling} \line In the last week, the World 
Health 
Organization (WHO) reconfirmed the need for world governments to be vigilant in their plans to protect 
against a potential pandemic outbreak. WHO also reconfirmed that stockpiling antivirals - in particular 
oseltamivir- 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 80 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 
quantities of Tamiflu to cover 20-40% of their population.\line \line {\b About 
Influenza 
and Tamiflu } \line Influenza is a serious, sometimes life-threatening disease and the 
infecting 
virus gives rise to a number of unpleasant symptoms including a high fever (40 degrees or more), tender 
joints/limbs, severe malaise, a racking cough and in some cases delirium, confusion and general disorientation. 
Influenza associated delirium and neuropsychiatric disorders are not uncommon \line \line Tamiflu 
has now been used in over 50 million influenza patients worldwide and treatment with Tamiflu has proven 
successful in reducing the duration and severity of the disease. The most common side effects are mild 
to moderate nausea and vomiting. Rare but serious skin reactions and allergic reaction have been reported. 
Patients with influenza should be carefully watched for signs of confusion and unusual behaviour. Reports 
of neuropsychiatric events leading to death are extremely rare, occurring in around 1 out of every 5 
million influenza patients treated. No causal link between such events and Tamiflu has been established. 
Indeed, study covering health insurance records in more than 300\u8217?000 patients showed that the incident 
of such reports is significantly lower in the Tamiflu treated patient group than in patients not treated 
for their influenza. \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 the world\u8217?s biggest biotech company and an innovator of 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 the world leader 
in in-vitro diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, a market leader in virology and active 
in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, inflammation, metabolism and central nervous 
system. 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 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 legally protected.\par}\line \line \line {\b Further 
information} \line - Roche Health Kiosk on Influenza (http://www.health-kiosk.ch/start_grip.htm)\line - 
More information about Tamiflu ( http://www.roche.com/med_mbtamiflu05e.pdf)\line - More about the flu ( http://www.roche.com/med_mbinfluenza05e.pdf)\line - 
Information from WHO on influenza (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/en/)\line - 
Information from WHO on avian flu (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/avian_influenza/en/)\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}
}