Media Release

Basel, 30 November 2004

Roche employees at almost 60 sites worldwide participate in the Roche AIDS Walk to support children orphaned by HIV/AIDS

On World AIDS Day tomorrow, Roche launches its Global Employee AIDS Walk to support the children orphaned as a result of AIDS in Malawi. About 500’000 orphans live in Malawi, a peaceful, stable country which is also one of the poorest countries in the world.

Roche employees asked how they could make a difference to people living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. Today, about 8000 employees from almost 60 Roche offices in Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Americas have registered to participate in the walk. Altogether they will walk or run once around the globe. The event is being run to raise funds to establish and support orphan centers across Malawi which provide shelter, food, clean water and education for the local orphaned children. This is supported via the work of the European Coalition of Positive People (ECPP).

Each participating employee has committed to raise money by gaining sponsorship. In addition, Roche has agreed to match the amount of money raised by employees taking part in the sponsored walk, greatly increasing the final amount that will be donated.

A pilot Roche Employee AIDS Walk took place in 2003 across three sites in Switzerland and the USA. The event was a huge success with over 1300 participants raising over a third of a million Swiss Francs. To date, this money has been used to purchase essential items, such as food, cooking utensils and clothes for the children, a borehole to provide clean water and to establish a fund for school fees. In addition, investments have been made in creating local facilities, such as the building and renovation of accommodation structures, as well as educational equipment, including schoolbooks and musical instruments. All efforts are designed to make a visible, long term and sustainable difference in the lives of the orphaned children.

Franz B. Humer, Roche CEO and Chairman, said: “I am overwhelmed by the huge involvement of our employees. The high number of participating employees sends a strong signal as it demonstrates our commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS. With the funds raised, we can directly improve the lives of thousands of children affected by the disease. The contribution of every Roche employee who participates will make a difference”.

Colin Webb, Executive Director, ECPP, comments: “The lives of the orphaned children with whom we work in Malawi will be greatly improved by the efforts of so many caring Roche employees. We were absolutely thrilled by both the enthusiasm and the money raised in 2003, and even more grateful that Roche has committed to raise money through the Global AIDS Walk in 2004. I know the children would love to thank Roche too”.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 38 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.

1

Sub-Saharan Africa is by far the worst affected area, with over 25 million people currently living with the disease.

2

It is estimated that in Malawi 15 per cent of adults are infected with HIV, and that the virus caused over 80,000 deaths in 2003.

3

However, the devastating impact of this disease extends much further than those infected – over half a million children in Malawi have lost their mother, father or both parents as a result of AIDS.

4

These orphaned children are highly vulnerable to child prostitution and have a lack of education and skills, which could help them to build a brighter future.

Moreen Williams, a US based Roche employee who has witnessed first-hand the impact of HIV/AIDS in Malawi comments: “The hunger and poverty are visible everywhere. I still feel very emotional today when I talk about my time in this country and my visits to the orphan centers.
I can’t believe anyone wouldn’t be moved by such an experience and would not want to help.
The main lesson I learned is that anything and everything can help in improving the lives of the orphaned children. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to serve such an important cause”.

In addition to raising money to help orphans in Malawi, many participating Roche sites will also donate a percentage of the money raised through the Global Employee AIDS Walk to a local HIV/AIDS organization in their country. As a result, children globally impacted by HIV/AIDS will benefit.

About ECPP
The European Coalition of Positive People (ECPP) is a self-help organisation of, by and for people living with HIV and AIDS, (HIV1 and HIV2), Hepatitis and Tuberculosis. ECPP seeks to establish a democratic and accountable patient voice at a European level. ECPP advocates for the rights of positive people (patients) as enshrined in the Paris Declaration and implicit in the UN Charter on Human Rights.

Roche Policies in Least Developed Countries
No patents for any of Roche medicines - across all disease areas - will be filed in the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs), as defined by the UN. Roche will not file patents on new HIV/AIDS medicines in Least Developed Countries or sub-Saharan Africa. Roche will not take action in these countries against the sale or manufacture of generic versions of HIV medicines for which Roche still holds patents. Generic versions of such HIV medicines can therefore be produced in LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa without the need for a voluntary or compulsory licence.

Roche makes its HIV protease inhibitors – Invirase (saquinavir) and Viracept (nelfinavir) available at no profit prices for direct supplies from Roche Basel to LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa.

Roche no profit pricing and patent policies apply to approximately two thirds of all people living with HIV/AIDS in the world.

Through its AmpliCare program Roche has been supplying HIV viral load tests at the lowest possible price to sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, and countries defined by the United Nation as ‘least developed’. AmpliCare focuses on the complete continuum of care – from testing to monitoring to education – and works to optimize efforts on a region-by-region basis. It includes flexible pricing and support of major government and private programs. Capping it off is an education program to ensure that local doctors and nurses are fully informed on the latest advances in HIV/ AIDS care.

Sustainability and social responsibility - part of the Roche tradition
Sustainability expresses a principle that has long been part of Roche’s culture and activities; so has social responsibility. Roche is committed to a system of corporate governance that conforms to the latest standards and is continuously benchmarking its principles and achievements against the industry and best practice. For over a century, the company has been working to improve healthcare worldwide and supports humanitarian projects aimed primarily at helping people in the world's poorest countries.

Amongst others, Roche is involved in the Phelophepa train project: Phelophepa is the name of a mobile clinic on rails which has been bringing basic medical services to people in remote parts of South Africa since 1994. Roche has been supporting the train, which is operated by the state rail corporation Transnet, for the last 10 years. Phelophepa spends 36 weeks a year travelling around areas with inadequate medical services. To date, the train has reached over one million people in remote parts of the country. This method of helping people to help themselves has brought about a significant and lasting improvement in the health of people living in the regions visited by the train. Phelophepa is thus contributing to sustainable development in rural South Africa.

About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading research-intensive healthcare groups. Its core businesses are pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative products and services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people’s health and quality of life. Roche is a world leader in Diagnostics, the leading supplier of medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market leader in virology. In 2003, the Pharmaceuticals Division generated 19.8 billion Swiss francs in prescription drug sales, while the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 7.4 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 65,000 people in 150 countries and has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are legally protected.

References:
1 http://www.unaids.org/bangkok2004/GAR2004_pdf/GAR2004_Execsumm_en.pdf
2 http://www.unaids.org/bangkok2004/GAR2004_pdf/GAR2004_Execsumm_en.pdf
3 UNAIDS/WHO/Epidemiological fact sheets – 2004 update – Malawi http://www.who.int/GlobalAtlas/PDFFactory/HIV/EFS_PDFs/EFS2004_MW.pdf
4 UNAIDS/WHO/Epidemiological fact sheets – 2004 update – Malawi http://www.who.int/GlobalAtlas/PDFFactory/HIV/EFS_PDFs/EFS2004_MW.pdf

For further information:
- Roche Pharmaceuticals in HIV: www.roche-hiv.com
- Roche Diagnostics in HIV: www.roche-diagnostics.com/servicebox/document_center/index.php
- Access to Healthcare: www.roche.com/sus_med.htm
- European Coalition of Postive People (ECPP): www.ecpp.co.uk
- Volounteerism at Roche: www.roche.com/sus_soc_coop_vol.htm
- Selected pictures:

Children at the Namiwa Orphans' Resource Centre
The Children's Oasis (orphan day-care centre) being built
The three AIDS walk participants who raised the most money at the building site of the Children's Oasis (orphan day-care centre). From left to right: Cam Greig, Palo Alto; Moreen Williams, Nutley and Claus Crede, Basel
A lesson at the under fives orphan centre
All 16 pictures and captions for download