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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
Basel, 14 November 2007\line \line {\b Roche Confirms Commencement 
of Due 
Diligence with Ventana} \line \line Roche (SWX: ROG.VX; RO.S) confirmed today 
that 
it has entered into a confidentiality agreement with Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: VMSI) and 
that it will commence due diligence. Roche cautioned that there can be no assurance that an agreement 
with respect to the acquisition of Ventana will be reached.\line \line On June 27, 
2007, Roche commenced a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Ventana for 
$75.00 per share in cash. This price represents a 44% premium to Ventana\u8217?s close of $51.95 on June 22, 
2007 (the last trading day prior to the announcement of Roche\u8217?s offer) and a 55% premium to its three-month 
average as of the same date of $48.30. The tender offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time 
on Thursday, January 17, 2008, unless further extended.\line \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, metabolic disorders and diseases 
of the central nervous system. In 2006 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totaled 33.3 billion Swiss 
francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.7 billion Swiss francs. Roche has R&D agreements 
and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech 
and Chugai, and invests approximately 7 billion Swiss francs a year in R&D. Worldwide, the Group 
employs about 75,000 people.\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: www.roche.com/info070625 (http://www.roche.com/info070625)\line \line \line 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).\line 
{\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}
}