FDA Clears Accu-Chek Pocket Compass™ Diabetes Care Software

New software tracks blood glucose trends, encourages disease management

Indianapolis, Indiana - June 17, 2002 - Roche Diagnostics recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared its new
Accu-Chek Pocket Compass™ Diabetes Care Software. The new software program, which is designed to help people with diabetes and their healthcare providers better manage the disease, tracks trends in blood glucose (or "sugar") levels by storing and analyzing up to 1,000 blood glucose readings.

"Accu-Chek Pocket Compass has really encouraged me to take better care of myself," said Kevin Carlisle, a paramedic and father of two small children in Madisonville, Kentucky. "I can look at trends in my blood sugar levels in chart and graph formats on my PDA and adjust my eating habits and anything else I need based on this information."

Because the software works on handheld computers running the Palm OS® Platform, users can record information on the spot, taking the information with them anywhere, including their physicians' offices. Those who have the Accu-Chek CompactÔ or Accu-Chek ActiveÔ blood glucose monitoring systems can use built-in infrared technology to "beam" data directly to their handheld computers.

"Accu-Chek Pocket Compass Diabetes Care Software gives me an unprecedented amount of information, which I can use to help my patients," said Bret Wittmer, M.D., medical director for Commonwealth Biomedical Research, Madisonville, Kentucky.

Accu-Chek Pocket Compass™ Diabetes Care Software provides 15 customizable and easy-to-understand reports, graphs and charts. Besides blood glucose data, the software allows users to collect insulin, meal and exercise information and track A1c, ketones and blood pressure.

"The Accu-Chek Pocket Compass Diabetes Care Software is part of Roche's commitment to providing people with diabetes tools and technologies that make their lives a little easier," said Don Dumoulin, vice president of Diabetes Care Marketing for Roche Diagnostics. "This product is designed to help in making real-life and real-time treatment decisions based on the delivery of timely precise, accurate and actionable information."

Accu-Chek products are designed to work together as a complete disease management system. Accu-Chek blood glucose monitoring systems collect blood glucose data and can transfer it via infrared or serial cable into the Accu-Chek Pocket Compass™ Diabetes Care Software (or to a PC-based version). The software analyzes the data and helps people with diabetes and their providers translate the data into treatment decisions.

Accu-Chek Pocket Compass Diabetes Care Software is available now by calling Accu-Chek Customer CareSM at 1-800-858-8072. For more information, please also visit www.accu-chek.com.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-oriented healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and vitamins. Roche's products and services address prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, thus enhancing well-being and quality of life. Roche's Diagnostics Division, the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics with a uniquely broad product portfolio, supplies a wide array of innovative testing products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals, and laboratories worldwide. Roche Diagnostics Corporation, based in Indianapolis, is the North American headquarters for the diagnostics business of the company. Roche Diagnostics' website is located at www.roche-diagnostics.com.