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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 19 June 2007\line \line {\b Roche 
acquires NimbleGen to gain entry into high-growth research microarrray market\line } Acquisition 
strengthens presence in genomics research market \line \line Roche 
and NimbleGen Systems Inc. today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which 
Roche will acquire 100% of NimbleGen, a privately held, Madison, Wisconsin, USA-based company active 
in high-density DNA microarrays. DNA microarrays are a widely used discovery and research tool in pharma 
research for the understanding of genetic causes of disease and predisposition factors, comparative 
genomic analysis and identification of potential drug targets. Under the terms of the agreement, Roche 
will pay NimbleGen\u8217?s shareholders 272.5 million US dollars.\line  \line "This 
acquisition represents a further milestone in our strategy to strengthen our position as a major player 
and complete solution provider in the genomics research market by extending our activities into the 
microarray segment," said Severin Schwan, CEO Division Roche Diagnostics. "The Array Systems 
from NimbleGen are highly synergistic and will complement the existing Roche portfolio of innovative 
genomic research tools such as the LightCycler qPCR systems and the high-throughput Sequencing Systems 
from the recently acquired company 454 Life Sciences." \line \line "Roche 
is one of the premiere life science companies, and NimbleGen is delighted to become part of the exciting 
story of growth and innovation occurring at Roche," said Dr. Stan Rose, CEO of NimbleGen. "Joining 
Roche will accelerate and broaden NimbleGen's opportunities with our high density DNA microarray business 
as well as with new technologies focused on targeted DNA sequencing." \line \line NimbleGen 
will become a fully integrated part of Roche Applied Science, a global business area of the Diagnostic 
Division of Roche. The company will continue to develop and market powerful array systems through Roche 
Applied Sciences extensive worldwide sales and distribution network. NimbleGen will be further expanding 
its product portfolio in the near future to include higher density arrays, integrated instrument systems, 
and related reagents and consumables for advanced genome analysis. Roche plans to maintain the current 
NimbleGen facilities in Madison, WI, USA, Reykjavik, Iceland, and Waldkraiburg, Germany as well as the 
company\u8217?s 140 employees.\line Worldwide, the micro array systems market has a size of about 
$ 600 Million and showed 10% growth in 2006.\line \line The transaction is expected 
to close in the third quarter of 2007, subject to approval by NimbleGen's shareholders and regulatory 
clearance.\line \line {\b About NimbleGen} \line NimbleGen 
Systems is a leading innovator, manufacturer and supplier of a proprietary suite of DNA microarrays, 
consumables, instruments and services. NimbleGen uniquely produces high-density arrays of long oligo 
probes that provide greater information content and higher data quality necessary for studying the full 
diversity of genomic and epigenomic variation. NimbleGen is enabling a new era of High-Definition Genomics 
by providing scientists with cost-effective, high-throughput tools for extracting and integrating complex 
data on important forms of genomic and epigenomic variation not previously accessible on a genome-wide 
scale. Scientists can thus obtain a clearer understanding of genomic and epigenomic structure and function 
and how they impact biology and medicine. This improved performance is made possible by NimbleGen's 
proprietary Maskless Array Synthesis (MAS) technology, which uses digital light processing and rapid, 
high-yield photochemistry to synthesize long oligo, high-density DNA microarrays with extreme flexibility. 
For more information about NimbleGen, please visit the company\u8217?s website at www.nimblegen.com (http://www.nimblegen.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 totalled 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}
}