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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 4 June 2007\line \line {\b Avastin 
significantly prolongs progression free survival in advanced kidney cancer} \line Patients 
have a chance to live almost twice as long without their disease returning\line \line Adding 
Avastin (bevacizumab) to interferon offers patients with advanced renal cell cancer the chance to live 
twice as long without their disease advancing ("progression free survival") compared with 
interferon 
alone. This is according to results from the pivotal phase III AVOREN trial presented today for the 
first time at the 43rd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.\line \line The 
results of the AVOREN trial showed that by adding Avastin to interferon, a current standard of care 
in advanced renal cell cancer: \par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Progression free 
survival was almost doubled from a median of 5.4 to 10.2 months\par}{\pard\f0\li440\ri0\sl360\fs22 - Tumour 
response was significantly increased from 12.8% with interferon alone to 31.4% when Avastin was added 
to the treatment regimen\par}\line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 "These results are significant 
because there is a real need for more effective treatments in advanced kidney cancer, where chemotherapy 
and radiotherapy are not as effective as in other cancers" said Professor Bernard Escudier, Head 
of 
Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapy Unit, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Paris, France and Principal Investigator 
of the study. "Avastin has been shown to be efficacious and well tolerated and is an important 
new treatment 
option in the fight against this cancer"\line \line The study also showed a 
trend 
towards improved overall survival; however, the overall survival data are still pending. No new or unexpected 
adverse events were observed. \line \line On an annual basis, in excess of 200,000 
people worldwide will receive a diagnosis of kidney cancer and more than 100,000 people worldwide will 
lose their lives to the disease.{\super 1}  These figures can be expected to increase 
as the number of people 
suffering from cancer rises 50%, as recently estimated by the WHO.{\super 2}  Roche 
submitted a Marketing Authorisation 
Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) based on the landmark AVOREN study 
in April 2007.\line \line {\b About AVOREN} \line The AVOREN 
study is a randomised, controlled, double-blind Phase III study that included 649 patients from 101 
study sites across 18 countries. In the study patients received treatment with either Avastin and interferon 
alpha-2a or placebo and interferon alpha-2a, a standard of care in advanced kidney cancer.\line \line The 
primary endpoint of the study was to demonstrate overall survival when Avastin was added to interferon 
alpha-2a therapy. The study protocol specified an interim overall survival analysis be performed at 
approximately 50 percent of events. Secondary endpoints included progression free survival (PFS), time 
to progression, time to treatment failure, overall response rate and safety profile. A final progression-free 
survival analysis was specified in the Statistical Analysis Plan to occur at the time of an interim 
overall survival analysis and was presented at the ASCO 2007 conference.\line \line The 
benefits of Avastin shown during the trial were so positive that based on earlier interim results in 
December 2006, the Drug Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) recommended that the trial was unblinded and 
all patient\u172?\u172?s were offered treatment with Avastin. The study demonstrated, for the first time that 
Avastin also benefits patients in combination with an immunotherapeutic. \line \line In 
the US, in prior consultation with the FDA, the primary analysis endpoint of the AVOREN study was revised 
to assess improvement in PFS, defined as the length of time the tumour did not grow or patient death 
did not occur.\line \line {\b About Kidney Cancer} \line Kidney 
cancer is more common in men than women (approximately 62% of renal cell carcinoma occurs in males) 
and incidence increases with age{\super 1} . \line \line Renal 
cell carcinoma (RCC) is the 
most common type of kidney cancer, accounting for nine out of ten cases. Within this cancer type, there 
are several types of cancer based on looking at the cells under a microscope. Clear cell renal cell 
cancer is the most common type. If RCC is diagnosed at an early stage when the cancer is still confined 
to the kidney, the 5 year survival rates are relatively good at 60 - 75%. However, if diagnosis is made 
at a later stage and the cancer has already spread to distant sites the 5 year survival rate is less 
than 5%{\super 2} . Unfortunately, because kidney cancer is often asymptomatic, the 
majority of patients are diagnosed 
at later disease stages.\line \line Treatment options for patients with kidney cancer 
are limited. Surgical removal of part or the entire kidney forms the mainstay of treatment but is only 
really successful in early stage disease. In later stage disease, treatment is more often employed with 
a view of controlling the cancer and improving associated symptoms. \line \line {\b About 
Avastin} \line Avastin is the first treatment that inhibits angiogenesis \u8211? the growth 
of a network of blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen to cancerous tissues. Avastin targets 
a naturally occurring protein called VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), a key mediator of angiogenesis, 
thus choking off the blood supply that is essential for the growth of the tumour and its spread throughout 
the body (metastasis).\line \line Avastin has now demonstrated a progression-free 
and/or overall survival benefit for patients in four cancer types, namely: colorectal, breast, lung 
and renal cell cancer.\line \line Roche and Genentech are pursuing a comprehensive 
clinical programme investigating the use of Avastin in various tumour types (including colorectal, breast, 
lung, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, renal cell carcinoma and others) and different settings (advanced 
and adjuvant ie post-operation). The total development programme is expected to include over 40,000 
patients worldwide.\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 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 \line {\b Additional 
information} \line - Roche in Oncology (http://www.roche.com/pages/downloads/company/pdf/mboncology05e_b.pdf) \line - Roche 
Health Kiosk, Cancer (http://www.health-kiosk.ch/start_krebs)\line - Avastin (http://www.avastin-info.com)\line \line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 \line {\b References} \line 1) 
Parkin DM, Bray F, Ferlay J and Pisani P. Global cancer statistics 2002. CA Cancer J Clin 2005; 55; 
74 - 108.\line 2) WHO Information sheet on cancer http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/facts/cancer/en/ 
(accessed 24th May 2007)\line 3) \u160?Medline Plus www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000516.htm 
(accessed on 23rd October 2006)\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}
}