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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, July 25, 2007\line \line {\b Roche 
Announces Expiration of HSR Waiting Period for Ventana Offer} \line \line Roche 
(SWX: ROG.VX; RO.S), a world-leading healthcare provider of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, today announced 
that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, 
applicable to Roche\u8217?s tender offer for all outstanding shares of common stock of Ventana Medical Systems 
(NASDAQ: VMSI) has expired. \line \line On June 27, 2007, Roche commenced a tender 
offer to purchase all outstanding shares of Ventana for $75 per share in cash. The expiration of the 
HSR waiting period satisfies one of the conditions to the tender offer. The offer is also conditioned 
upon, among other things, the tender of a majority of Ventana\u8217?s shares of common stock on a fully diluted 
basis, Ventana\u8217?s Board taking all necessary actions to make its shareholder rights plan inapplicable 
to Roche\u8217?s offer, and other customary conditions.\line Greenhill & Co. and Citi are acting 
as financial advisors to Roche and Davis Polk & Wardwell is acting as legal counsel.\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 totaled CHF 33.3 billion, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of CHF 8.7 billion. 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. \line \line Roche\u8217?s 
Diagnostics Division offers a uniquely broad product portfolio and supplies a wide array of innovative 
testing products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories world-wide.\line \line Roche 
commenced operations in the U.S. over 100 years ago and these operations include research and development 
centers that conduct leading-edge work in advancing disease detection and treatment. Our diagnostics 
and pharmaceuticals businesses in the U.S. employ more than 20,000 people and generate approximately 
$10 billion in sales (including Genentech), accounting for about 40% of the Roche Group's global annual 
revenues.\line \line For further information, please visit 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 Further information} \line - 
All documents on the offer to Ventana\u8217?s shareholders (http://www.roche.com/info070625)\line \line \line \line {\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 CAUTIONARY 
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS\line THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING 
STATEMENTS. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS MAY BE IDENTIFIED BY WORDS SUCH AS \u8216?BELIEVES\u8217?, \u8216?EXPECTS\u8217?, 
\u8216?ANTICIPATES\u8217?, \u8216?PROJECTS\u8217?, \u8216?INTENDS\u8217?, \u8216?SHOULD\u8217?, \u8216?SEEKS\u8217?, \u8216?ESTIMATES\u8217?, \u8216?FUTURE\u8217? OR SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS 
OR BY DISCUSSION OF, AMONG OTHER THINGS, STRATEGY, GOALS, PLANS OR INTENTIONS. VARIOUS FACTORS MAY CAUSE 
ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY IN THE FUTURE FROM THOSE REFLECTED IN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 
CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, AMONG OTHERS: (1) PRICING AND PRODUCT INITIATIVES OF COMPETITORS; (2) LEGISLATIVE 
AND REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS; (3) DELAY OR INABILITY IN OBTAINING REGULATORY 
APPROVALS OR BRINGING PRODUCTS TO MARKET; (4) FLUCTUATIONS IN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES AND GENERAL FINANCIAL 
MARKET CONDITIONS; (5) UNCERTAINTIES IN THE DISCOVERY, DEVELOPMENT OR MARKETING OF NEW PRODUCTS OR NEW 
USES OF EXISTING PRODUCTS, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION NEGATIVE RESULTS OF CLINICAL TRIALS OR RESEARCH 
PROJECTS, UNEXPECTED SIDE-EFFECTS OF PIPELINE OR MARKETED PRODUCTS; (6) INCREASED GOVERNMENT PRICING 
PRESSURES; (7) INTERRUPTIONS IN PRODUCTION; (8) LOSS OF OR INABILITY TO OBTAIN ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR 
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS; (9) LITIGATION; (10) LOSS OF KEY EXECUTIVES OR OTHER EMPLOYEES; AND (11) 
ADVERSE PUBLICITY AND NEWS COVERAGE. THE STATEMENT REGARDING EARNINGS PER SHARE GROWTH IS NOT A PROFIT 
FORECAST AND SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED TO MEAN THAT ROCHE\u8217?S EARNINGS OR EARNINGS PER SHARE FOR ANY CURRENT 
OR FUTURE PERIOD WILL NECESSARILY MATCH OR EXCEED THE HISTORICAL PUBLISHED EARNINGS OR EARNINGS PER 
SHARE OF ROCHE.\line \line ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT\line THIS 
PRESS RELEASE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR A SOLICITATION 
OF AN OFFER TO SELL VENTANA\u8217?S COMMON STOCK. THE TENDER OFFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO A TENDER OFFER 
STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE TO (INCLUDING THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER RELATED TENDER 
OFFER MATERIALS) FILED BY ROCHE WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) ON JUNE 27, 2007. 
THESE MATERIALS, AS THEY MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING 
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER, THAT SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH 
RESPECT TO THE TENDER OFFER. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS CAN OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF THESE MATERIALS AND 
OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY ROCHE WITH THE SEC AT THE WEBSITE MAINTAINED BY THE SEC AT WWW.SEC.GOV. THE 
TENDER OFFER MATERIALS MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED FOR FREE BY CONTACTING THE INFORMATION AGENT FOR THE TENDER 
OFFER, MACKENZIE PARTNERS AT (212) 929-5500 OR (800) 322-2885 (TOLL-FREE).\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}
}