Roche Diagnostics Selects New Integrated Agency Team for its Accu-Chek Brand

Indianapolis, Indiana - October 17, 2002 - Roche Diagnostics announced today that it will consolidate its U.S. diabetes care marketing communications business for the Accu-Chek brand with an integrated Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) team.

"Through the Accu-Chek family of products, Roche Diagnostics participates in a highly competitive, rapidly evolving market," said Don Dumoulin, vice president of marketing, Diabetes Care, Roche Diagnostics. "Now is the time to firmly establish and advance the incredible brand equity of Accu-Chek's family of products."

The team includes Corbett Worldwide Healthcare Communications, a division of the Corbett Healthcare Group, BBDO Chicago, Porter Novelli, PHD, Footsteps, Interbrand and Interbrand Wood Healthcare, and GMR Marketing, among others.

"We are thrilled that Roche Diagnostics has placed its confidence in our integrated communications team to extend the value of the Accu-Chek brand," said Scott Cotherman, president and chief executive officer of Corbett. "This brand has a great heritage, and Roche Diagnostics has put forth a dynamic vision for its potential in an expanding marketplace."

"The consolidation decision was driven by the need to have a strong brand stewardship agency group to advance the market leadership of the Accu-Chek brand," Dumoulin added. "We believe that integrated brand messages across our multiple customer segments will strengthen the Accu-Chek brand's value proposition."

About Roche and the Roche Diagnostics Division

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-oriented healthcare groups. The company's two core businesses in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics provide innovative products and services, that address prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, thus enhancing people's health and quality of life. The two core businesses employ about 57,000 employees worldwide. 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 world-wide. Roche Diagnostics' North American headquarters are located in Indianapolis, Ind. For further information, please visit our websites www.roche.com and www.roche-diagnostics.com.

About Omnicom

Omnicom is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.