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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 29 April 2009\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b Roche steps up preparedness level in response to WHO\u8217?s increase to pandemic alert phase 4 } \par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Roche today confirms that it is working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Governments around the world to make the oral antiviral medication Tamiflu available to patients in need following the increased reports of outbreaks of swine flu. The WHO and US CDC report Tamiflu is active against this new swine flu virus A(H1N1). \par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Roche believes that the world is better prepared than ever before for a possible outbreak of pandemic influenza and has, for the last five years, been working closely with Governments, Health Authorities and Corporations on Pandemic Preparedness. \par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 William M. Burns, CEO Pharmaceuticals Division of Roche commented: \u8220?The WHO recommends to increase pandemic preparedness. Roche is supporting these activities and is working closely with WHO and Governments to fight a potential influenza pandemic\u8221?.\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 To date, Roche has fulfilled Government pandemic orders amounting to 220 million treatment courses of Tamiflu. In addition, Roche donated 5 million packs of Tamiflu to WHO in 2006, consisting of a 2 million treatment course \u8220?Regional stockpile\u8221? and a 3 million treatment course \u8220?Rapid Response\u8221? stockpile. The regional stockpiles are held by the WHO at various locations around the world. The WHO \u8220?Rapid Response Stockpile\u8221? of 3 million treatment courses of Tamiflu is on 24 hour stand-by and will be deployed at the request of the WHO. \par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Roche continues to work with all stakeholders in the interest to best support governments. This means managing the supply chain from starting materials to inventories in countries. Given that WHO alerted to Phase IV of a pandemic, the collaboration with WHO and governments is Roche\u8217?s current priority.\par}
{\pard\f0\sl360\fs22\b About Roche\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world\u8217?s largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche\u8217?s personalised healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients.\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 In 2008, Roche had over 80\u8217?000 employees worldwide and invested almost 9 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group posted sales of 45.6 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com.\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 {\b Notes to Editors} \line H1N1 swine-flu virus causing outbreak is a new virus, antigenically very different from the seasonal A[H1N1] virus\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}
}