Xeloda Approved in Europe for the Treatment of Advanced Stomach Cancer (y 2)

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As the world's biggest biotech company and an innovator of products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people's health and quality of life. Roche is the world leader in diagnostics and drugs for cancer and transplantation, a market leader in virology and active in other major therapeutic areas such as autoimmune diseases, inflammation, metabolism and central nervous system. In 2006 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 33.3 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.7 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 75,000 worldwide 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 at www.roche.com.

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Additional information:

-- Gastric cancer fact sheet

-- Xeloda in gastric cancer fact sheet

-- Roche in oncology: www.roche.com/pages/downloads/company/pd...

-- Broadcast quality B-roll including doctor, caregiver and patient interviews is available for download via www.thenewsmarket.com

References:

1) Ajani, J. Evolving Chemotherapy for Advanced Gastric Cancer. The Oncologist, Oct. 2005; Vol. 10, Sup. 3, 49-582

2) World Health Organisation, 2005.

3) Boyle, P & Ferlay, J. Cancer incidence and mortality in Europe 2004. Annals of Oncology 2005; 16(3):481-4883.

Media relations contacts: Julia Pipe, International Communications Manager - Xeloda, Roche, Tel: +41-61-687-4376, Mobile: +41-(0)79-263-9715, Email: julia.pipe@roche.com. Nerea Hinzpeter, ShireHealthPR, Tel: +1-212-625-4178, Email: nerea.hinzpeter@shirehealthpr.com. Roche Group Media Office, Phone: +41-61-688-8888 / e-mail: basel.mediaoffice@roche.com - Baschi Dürr - Daniel Piller (Head of Roche Group Media Office) - Katja Prowald (Head of R&D Communications) - Martina Rupp