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{\pard\sa900\fs50\f0\i Media Release\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Basel, 2. May 2009\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 {\b Roche rapidly responds to WHO request to deploy Rapid Response Stockpiles of Tamiflu to tackle global emergence of a new H1N1 influenza A strain - swine flu*} \par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Roche today confirms that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has requested deployment of the \u8220?Rapid Response Stockpile.\u8221? The stockpile is being deployed to countries in need at the discretion of WHO.\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 The stockpiles includes both the 2 million treatment courses held by the WHO and the 3 million treatment course rapid response stockpile held by Roche.\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 David Reddy, Roche\u8217?s Pandemic Taskforce Leader commented: \u8220?Roche is committed to support WHO and Governments. We can confirm that WHO has asked us to activate our \u8220?Rapid Response Stockpile\u8221? today. Also, Roche is scaling up production in the best interest of all stakeholders\u8221?. \par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 In addition, Roche is continuing to maximize manufacturing output of Tamiflu to meet the growing demand. Over the past week Roche has been ramping up Tamiflu output at multiple points in the supply chain. Production ramp up will continue over time resulting in a continuous and increasing flow of Tamiflu.\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 Roche is committed to supporting Governments in combating this outbreak of influenza and is working closely with them to supply orders of Tamiflu as requested. \par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs18 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\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.\par}
{\pard\f0\li0\ri0\sa360\sl360\fs22 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 \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}
}