90% of Cancer Patients Completely Unaware of New Breakthrough Cancer Therapy Which Medical Experts Believe Could Reduce

Roche and Genentech are pursuing a comprehensive clinical programme investigating the use of Avastin in advanced colorectal cancer with other chemotherapies and also expanding into the adjuvant setting (post operation). As its mechanism is highly relevant in a number of malignant tumours, Roche and Genentech are also investigating the potential clinical benefit of Avastin in breast, lung, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, renal cell carcinoma and others. Approximately 15,000 patients are expected to be enrolled into clinical trials over the next years worldwide.

ZURICH, Suisse, March 27 /PRNewswire/ --

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative products and services for the early detection, 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 2005 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 27.3 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.2 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 70,000 people in 150 countries and has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. Additional information about the Roche Group is available on the Internet (www.roche.com).

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For further information please contact: Christine Hill at Roche, Tel: +41(0)61-688-89-95, Mobile: +41(0)79-788-82-45, Ann Blumenstock at Resolute Communications: Telephone: +44(0)20-7397-7484, Mobile: +44(0)7788-543537