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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 29 May 2007\line \line {\b New 
AIDS Technology Transfers free of charge reinforce Roche\u8217?s commitment to strengthen local manufacturing 
in Africa } \line \u8226? Agreements signed with Ethiopia\u8217?s Addis Pharmaceutical Factory and 
Zimbabwe\u8217?s 
Varichem Pharmaceuticals\line \u8226? exploratory talks with further African manufacturers 
\line \line Roche 
today announced the agreement of two new technology transfers with local manufacturing companies in 
Africa; Addis Pharmaceutical Factory in Ethiopia and Varichem Pharmaceuticals in Zimbabwe. As part of 
Roche\u8217?s Technology Transfer Initiative, these companies will be provided free of charge with the technical 
expertise and guidance to manufacture generic HIV medicine, based upon the processes to produce saquinavir, 
Roche\u8217?s 2nd line{\super 1}  HIV medicine. To date, Roche has Technology Transfer agreements 
with a total of five companies across Africa since its launch in January 2006. Roche has received expressions 
of interest from a total of 32 manufacturers in 15 eligible countries, including Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe 
and Nigeria. Roche is working with these individual applicants to assess production over the coming 
weeks. \line \line William M. Burns, CEO Division Roche Pharma, stated, "These 
new agreements highlight the positive contribution that the Technology Transfer Initiative is making 
to help strengthen and expand local manufacturing capabilities for HIV medicines in Africa. Now entering 
its second year, the initiative reinforces Roche\u8217?s commitment to find long-term, sustainable solutions 
to help increase access to healthcare in the world\u8217?s poorest countries. With more African manufacturers 
now looking to scale-up production of essential medicines, the launch of this initiative in 2006 highlights 
Roche as an innovative leader in supporting sustainable solutions to deliver HIV healthcare where it 
is needed most." \line \line Roche\u8217?s dedicated team will work onsite at the 
manufacturing facilities in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe and from its headquarters in Switzerland to undertake 
the technology transfers. The companies will be able to produce saquinavir for supply throughout Ethiopia 
and Zimbabwe in addition to any country within sub-Saharan Africa or defined as Least Developed by the 
United Nations, encompassing 64% of all people living with HIV/AIDS globally. \line \line Archibald 
Chimuka, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Varichem Pharmaceuticals, Zimbabwe commented "For us the 
benefits 
go beyond the production of saquinavir, it improves our entire technical and quality systems. We are 
eager to work with Roche on this initiative which helps to meet the needs of our people suffering HIV, 
who simply otherwise would not have access to these badly needed medications."\line  
\u160?\line {\b About 
Roche\u8217?s Technology Transfer Initiative} \line Announced in January 2006, the Roche Technology 
Transfer Initiative aims to provide local manufacturers with the technical expertise required to produce 
generic HIV medicines. Manufacturers in sub-Saharan Africa and the Least Developed Countries wishing 
to produce generic saquinavir for use in these countries will not be required to apply for a voluntary 
licence, as Roche has committed as part of its global policy not to enforce patents on HIV antiretroviral 
medicines within these countries. Interested manufacturers should contact the Project Manager, Technology 
Transfer Initiative at the Roche Kenya office: info.aidstechtransfer@roche.com (mailto://info.aidstechtransfer@roche.com).\line \line Interested 
local manufacturers in the following countries are invited to contact Roche to discuss the Technology 
Transfer Initiative: Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Burundi, 
Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, C\u244?te d\u8217?Ivoire, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad Comoros, Democratic 
Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 
Haiti, Kenya, Kiribati, Lao People\u8217?s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, 
Mali, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao 
Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, 
Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.\line \line {\b About 
Roche\u8217?s patent and pricing policy} \line In addition to its Technology Transfer Initiative, 
Roche will maintain its current pricing and patent policy. No patents for any of Roche medicines \u8211? across 
all disease areas - will be filed in the world\u8217?s Least Developed Countries (LDCs), as defined by the 
UN. Roche will not file patents on new HIV antiretroviral medicines in LDCs or sub-Saharan Africa. Roche 
will not take action in these countries against the sale or manufacture of generic versions of antretroviral 
medicines. Generic versions of such HIV medicines can therefore be produced in LDCs and sub-Saharan 
Africa without the need for a voluntary or compulsory licence. Roche makes its HIV protease inhibitors 
Invirase and Viracept available at no profit prices for direct supplies from Roche Basel to LDCs and 
sub-Saharan Africa.\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 protected by law.\par}\line \line {\b Additional 
information} \line - Roche & HIV/AIDS (http://www.roche-hiv.com) \line - Access 
to Roche\u8217?s medicines (http://www.roche.com/sus_med.htm) \line \line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 1) WHO treatment guidelines 
for resource limited settings: www.who.int/3by5/publications/documents/arv_guidelines/en\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}
}