Roche corporate brochure

Life writes the questionsWe pursue the answers

Life writes the questions.

1Roche We Innovate Healthcare

What will help me?

Can I have hope?

When will the others notice?

How much life is six months?

How bad can it get?

Am I alone?

What about my family?

Will my life change?

What if I’m not ready yet?

What’s fair?

How can I protect us?

How many summers have I got left?

Have I expected too much?

Should I fight?

How much longer?

Aren’t I too young?

Who can tell me if I’m doing the right thing?

Is it right to give up?

Is there a solution?

Roche We Innovate Healthcare Roche We Innovate Healthcare

When it comes to disease there are as many questions as people.

We can’t provide an answer to them all – but we can help with our expertise.

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Roche We Innovate Healthcare Roche We Innovate Healthcare 4342

Innovation is our answer to medicalchallenges. Our daily work is savingpatients’ lives and helping millions ofpeople around the world. We continu-ously invest in medical research anddevelopment to provide new drugsand diagnostic products for condi-tions such as cancer, AIDS, hepatitis,Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoidarthritis and diabetes.


For more than 110 years Roche has played a pio-neering role in healthcare. Today, as world leader inin-vitro diagnostics, we supply a wide range of diag-nostic instruments and tests for rapid and reliabledisease detection and monitoring by doctors, labora-tories or patients themselves. In the therapeutic field,Roche has brought many highly effective drugs ontothe market in the last few years. Our daily workfocuses on disease areas where medical needs aregreat. These include cancers, viral infections, meta-bolic and central nervous system disorders andinflammatory diseases. Roche is the world’s leadingsupplier of prescription drugs for cancer treatment.

Roche invests heavily in the research and develop-ment of new drugs and diagnostic products andcomplements its own worldwide research activitieswith a wealth of cooperation agreements with uni-versities, research institutes and biotech companies.This network and our majority stakes in Genentechin the USA and Chugai in Japan provide us withbroad access to innovation. As the world’s largestbiotech company, we exploit the latest discoveriesand technologies to develop our products. Togetherwith our partners we turn the multiplicity of ideasinto medical solutions.

The rapid progress in research gives us importantinsights into the molecular mechanisms of disease.We also know that two people can react differentlyto the same medication and that this is based onvariations in our genes. Personalised medicine takesthese new discoveries into account in the develop-ment of drugs and diagnostic tests. Roche plays apioneering role in this area and is already marketingthe first personalised medicinal products that aretailored to the needs of specific patient groups.

Focus on unsolved medical problems

Personalised medicine – an interplayof diagnosis and treatment

We discover, develop and deliver innovative diagnostic

and therapeutic products and services that transform

patients’ lives and bring real benefits – from early detection

and prevention of diseases to diagnosis, treatment and

treatment monitoring.

Broad access to innovation

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Rochein a nutshell

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US $ investmenthours of workexperimentsresearchersdrug

Cancer is not a single, static disease. It is a complex condition ofwhich over 250 types have been identified so far. Its developmentinvolves a multitude of changes in the affected cells, and thismakes it difficult to fight.

World leader in innovative cancer drugsRoche currently has a number of innovative cancerdrugs on the market. They give patients the mostimportant thing in life: time to live. Five of thesedrugs – Herceptin, Avastin, MabThera/Rituxan,Xeloda and Tarceva – offer clear survival benefitsin different types of cancer and each has its ownunique mechanism of action that halts tumourgrowth. In addition to these products, we supplya variety of therapies that help to ease the possibleside effects associated with cancer treatment.

Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in

the industrialised world and its incidence is growing.

But if detected early enough, many forms of the disease

can be effectively treated.

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Oncology

Precise diagnosis – the key to successfultreatmentPrecise diagnosis is the key to successful treatment.Biomarkers, i.e. components of our body cells thatcan be used as indicators for the disease, will enabledoctors to determine which cancer type a patienthas much more quickly and specifically. We are alsoworking to identify tumour markers that will detecttumour cells long before the first symptoms becomeapparent. This information will help physicians to ini-tiate targeted and effective treatment without delay,thereby enhancing patient well-being and decreasingthe cost to the healthcare system.

Roche searches for potential curesOur understanding of the molecular mechanismsof tumour development and how tumours spread hascontinually improved. This helps our scientists to tar-get the processes that lead to cancer. This is an areawhere biopharmaceuticals, and especially highlyspecific antibodies, play an important role. Our goalis to use modern technologies to make these bio-pharmaceuticals even more effective in the future.

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Figures are approximate.


Virology

Viral diseases are an insidious and serious health hazard. Virusesare often not detected early enough, which allows them to spreaduncontrolled. Their infinite adaptability also makes them hardto target and trap.

New mechanisms of action help those livingwith HIV/AIDSHIV/AIDS remains incurable. But deaths from AIDShave declined dramatically in recent years. This isdue in no small part to modern molecular diagnosticswhose capacity for rapid, reliable and routine detec-tion and monitoring of the virus and virus resistanceenables patients’ treatment to be adjusted accord-ingly. We are proud to have developed two entirelynew classes of effective drugs that represent majorbreakthroughs for HIV treatment and patients.

Roche responds to global challengesThe world’s poorest countries have access to ourvirology products. By adopting a combination oftiered pricing, a flexible patent policy and technologytransfer initiatives, we’re making it easier for them toaddress their healthcare challenges. We’re workingin partnership with the World Health Organization(WHO), committed governments, non-governmentalorganisations and other stakeholders to develop so-lutions that benefit the least developed countries.

Flu is a real challenge to our immune systemEvery year flu viruses attack the immune systemsof 100 million people in Europe, Japan and the USAalone, and up to 500,000 people die each year world-wide. By changing their profile slightly every year,they make it difficult for our immune system to fightthem off. In a joint project, Roche and Gilead devel-oped Tamiflu, a drug that attacks the flu virus andis now used throughout the world for the treatmentand prevention of influenza.

Early detection of hepatitis increasesthe likelihood of cureHepatitis is a viral infection that can go undetectedin the body for years. Left untreated, it can lead tocirrhosis, liver failure and cancer. Detection andtreatment are essential in the early stages when thelikelihood of cure is relatively high. Tests that diag-nose and monitor the virus in the blood and treatmentwith our biotech drug Pegasys have helped many ofthe people who have been infected. Unfortunately,not all patients respond equally well to this treatment.That’s why we’re working intensively on new strate-gies to provide effective treatment to more patients.

Flu, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS are some of the most

widespread viral infections. Once upon a time, only

temperatures were taken to give an indication of illness.

Today’s molecular medicine offers new diagnostic

techniques and treatments to relieve suffering, limit

new infections and reduce mortality.

The revolutionin our diagnostic instruments

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Regulation of our body’s blood sugar level is a vital yet delicatebalance, which can easily be disrupted. The result is diabetes.The WHO estimates that more than 180 million people worldwidesuffer from diabetes. Type 2 diabetes – the commonest form of thedisease – is now recognised globally as a growing epidemic.

Diabetes prevention in AfricaThe number of people with type 2 diabetes appearsto be increasing significantly in rural South Africa.The Phelophepa train, a South African communityhealth clinic on rails which Roche has sponsoredsince its inception, helps people to prevent the onsetof diabetes and to recognise its symptoms. The trainbrings primary healthcare services, general medicalcare and health education programmes to ruralareas. Roche’s commitment to Phelophepa exempli-fies our philosophy of collaborative and sustainablecorporate donations. We believe in supporting novel,practical solutions that are tailored to local condi-tions and needs and that can be implemented inconjunction with committed local partners.

Independence for people with diabetesDiabetes isn’t a disease you can necessarily feel– to detect it and keep it under control, there’s nosubstitute for regularly checking your blood sugarlevels. Testing takes just a single drop of blood anda few minutes. We offer a wide range of productsthat make it easy for people with diabetes to checktheir blood sugar levels consistently in day-to-daysituations.

Roche – the leader in diabetes careFor over 30 years our Accu-Chek blood glucosemeters have ensured precise and rapid blood sugarmeasurement both at home and on the move. Notonly that, they have become increasingly easy tooperate. State-of-the-art measurement, infusion anddata processing systems help doctors and patientsto implement comprehensive diabetes managementand hence optimise treatment. Regular blood sugarmonitoring gives people with diabetes a major advan-tage, enabling them to lower the risk of potentiallylife-threatening complications.

New research strategies focus on metabolismResearching new drugs against diabetes meanstaking a patient’s metabolism into account. Recog-nising that obesity, lipid metabolism disorders andhigh blood pressure are closely associated withdiabetes, Roche is testing various compounds thatact at key metabolic interfaces. At the same timewe’re using a new comprehensive approach calledsystems biology to research the central role playedby the body’s insulin-producing cells.

Diabetes is a complex chronic disease. But it can be

controlled through a combination of the right lifestyle,

good health management and new treatment strategies.

The core component in controlling diabetes is careful

blood sugar monitoring.

This dropcan save lives

Metabolism

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Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common autoimmunediseases, affecting more than 21 million people worldwide.In 30–40% of cases conventional drugs are ineffective or poorlytolerated. Now, biopharmaceuticals are paving the way for a newtreatment that can impede progression of the disease andprevent joint damage and pain.

Intensive collaboration with patientorganisationsIt is important to us to gain a greater understandingof what it is like to live with this and other diseases,and to comprehend the challenges facing patientsand their families. That’s why we collaborate closelywith different patient organisations – to gain know-ledge, for example, about disease-related problemsor the user-friendliness of drugs which only theycan supply. This cooperation also enables Rocheto gather experience that is channelled into supportfor doctors and nursing staff, and in this way bene-fits patients.

Roche goes to the root of the diseaseOur researchers are looking to deepen their under-standing of the immune system and pinpoint thecauses and course of arthritis. Their discoveries havealready resulted in new drugs offering real patientbenefits. Biopharmaceuticals such as MabThera/Rituxan in rheumatoid arthritis selectively intervenein the molecular course of the disease without weak-ening the immune system as a whole. This newmechanism of action alleviates pain and holds thedisease in check.

The earlier the diagnosis, the betterCurrently doctors rely on a constellation of signsand symptoms to make a firm diagnosis of rheuma-toid arthritis. By that time many patients are alreadydisabled by their damaged joints. Our goal is earlierdetection using a reliable disease indicator in theform of a biomarker incorporated in a diagnostictest. Only then will doctors be able to intervene earlyenough to prevent joint damage and disability.

We speak of an autoimmune disease when the body

turns on itself and the immune system mistakes “self ”

for “non-self ”. Innovative biopharmaceuticals offer

a defence against this autoimmune attack.

Our contributionto enhancing quality of life

Inflammation

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Central nervous system disorders are among the world’s greatestunresolved health problems, and Alzheimer’s disease is one of thebiggest threats facing aging industrial societies. There is currentlyno prospect of a cure for Alzheimer’s, only the possibility of slowingits progression.

Responsible actionResearch entails responsibility. That’s why we’vealways applied the highest ethical standards in re-search and development, reflected for example inour guidelines governing genetic research or clinicaltrials. Before a drug comes to market a regulatoryauthority must approve it. This approval process in-cludes pre-clinical laboratory and animal studies, aswell as clinical trials to demonstrate the safety andefficacy of the drug. We believe that we have an ethi-cal obligation to inform the public about our clinicaltrials and their results so that this information can behelpful to patients and physicians.

Fighting forgetfulness with therapeuticantibodiesWe’re thinking outside the box to attack the dis-ease at its root. We’re researching various strategiesfor dissolving the brain deposits, known as plaques,that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. Onepromising approach, identified in collaboration witha partner, is based on a human therapeutic antibodythat is custom-designed for this purpose. Patientswill benefit because removal of the deposits has beenlinked to improved cognitive functioning.

New perspectives for schizophrenia patientsYears of research on the central nervous system isleading us in new directions and towards innovativeapproaches to the treatment of schizophrenia. Wehave discovered compounds that differ in their mech-anism of action from the classical antipsychoticscurrently used to treat schizophrenia. This may bringfresh hope to patients with psychiatric disorders.

Developing effective drugs for diseases such as Alzheimer’s,

schizophrenia or depression is a major challenge.

Nevertheless, research in these areas has progressed

enormously in the last few decades.

The most effective drugwhen it comes to the brain

Central nervous system

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Our aim is to continue tailoring medicine as closely as possibleto patients’ needs. As one of the world’s leading healthcarecompanies, and given our combined strengths in pharmaceuticalsand diagnostics, there’s no one better suited for the task of devel-oping personalised medicine.

Medicine is becoming increasingly personalisedOver the last few years Roche has given variousexamples in the fields of cancer treatment and viraldiseases of how the interweaving of diagnostic andpharmaceutical expertise paves the way for person-alised medicine. Our aim is to provide healthcareprofessionals with more powerful diagnostic toolsand targeted treatments based on the new insightsinto how diseases arise at the molecular level.

Setting our sights on the futureWe’re convinced that only innovation can maintainthe requisite quality of healthcare over the long term.Innovation is the core of our strategy and the key tosafer, more cost-effective and more people-friendlymedicines.

People are different and so are diseasesIndividuals react differently to specific medicationsdue to the variations in their genes. Moreover, manydiseases occur in genetically distinct subtypes thatvary in their clinical course and prognosis. Thus, twopatients who seemingly have the same disease andare treated with the same medicine may respond inradically different ways. One may benefit fully fromtreatment, while the other experiences unwanted sideeffects or derives no clinical benefit at all.

Variations in our genesHow well certain drugs work depends in many caseson specific gene variations in patients. A modernDNA chip (AmpliChip CYP450 test) enables doctorsto identify these variations in a minute amount ofDNA. Based on this knowledge, they can then adjusttreatment accordingly. As a result patients receivethe right dosage of the right drug, which leads toa better treatment outcome.

Every patient expects the best possible treatment. Science

helps to provide it. Growing insights into the causes

and progression of diseases on a molecular level offer the

opportunity to improve the way we diagnose and treat

disease. People are different, and for that reason one size

does not fit all.

This moleculemakes the difference

Personalised medicine

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There are as many answers as people.

We continue to research individual solutions.

Roche We Innovate Healthcare60

Published byF. Hoffmann-La Roche LtdCorporate Communications4070 Basel, Switzerland

© 2008

All trademarks mentioned enjoy legal protection.

This brochure is available inGerman, English, Spanish and French.

Printed on FSC-certified paper

Concept and designInterbrand Zintzmeyer & Lux, Zurich

Printed in Switzerland byBirkhäuser + GBC, Reinach BL

World Wide Webhttp://www.roche.com

Published byF. Hoffmann-La Roche LtdCorporate Communications4070 Basel, Switzerland

© 2008

All trademarks mentioned enjoy legal protection.

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