ACCU-CHEK® PRODUCT LINE EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
Ease of Product Use Tied to Quick Consumer Uptake

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Roche Diagnostics Corporation Diabetes Care division posted an 11.2 percent sales increase in the first quarter of 2003 vs. Q1 2002, contributing to the recently announced strong earnings growth by The Roche Group. The gains are due primarily to the growth and popularity of the company's three leading Diabetes Care brands: Accu-Chek Compact®, Accu-Chek® Advantage® and Accu-Chek Active™ blood glucose meters, according to Martin Madaus, Roche Diagnostics President and CEO.

"The Q1 sales gains are due primarily to the tremendous consumer and healthcare professional acceptance our products have received," said Madaus. "Our newly launched Accu-Chek Compact advertising campaign demonstrates to consumers that 'Diabetes Made Easier. Life Lived Better.' is very real by using the new technology and ease-of-use inherent in our line of Accu-Chek products."

The Accu-Chek Compact Meter, Roche Diagnostics' newest blood glucose monitoring device, features industry-leading technology, a unique drum containing 17 test strips that makes it easier and more convenient for a person with diabetes to conduct a blood glucose test.

"This is an exciting time for Roche Diagnostics and our Diabetes Care Business," said Madaus. "With the recent launch of our new Accu-Chek Compact advertising campaign, new offerings pending from Disetronic Medical Systems, and more Accu-Chek products in development, Roche continues as a global leader in diabetes management tools and resources."

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is an innovation-driven global healthcare leader focused on pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is number one worldwide in diagnostics, oncology and transplantation and has a leading position in virology. With products and services that address the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, the company contributes broadly to the enhancement of people's health and quality of life. Roche employs approximately 62,000 people in more than 150 countries around the world. The company has business alliances and R&D relationships with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai, which are both members of the Roche Group. 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. As a leader in diabetes management technology, Roche Diagnostics is dedicated to developing technologies and services under the Accu-Chek brand that helps making living with diabetes easier. For further information, please visit our Websites www.roche.com and www.roche-diagnostics.com.

# # #
.
ACCU-CHEK, ADVANTAGE, ACCU-CHEK COMPACT, and ACCU-CHEK ACTIVE are trademarks of a Member of the Roche Group.

Disclaimer
This release contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "intends," "should," "seek," "estimates," "future" or similar expressions or by discussion of strategy, goals, plans or intentions. Various factors may cause actual results to differ materially in the future from those reflected in forward-looking statements contained in this release among others: (1) pricing and product initiatives of competitors; (2) legislative and regulatory developments and economic conditions; (3) delay or inability in obtaining regulatory approvals or brining products to market; (4) fluctuations in currency exchange rates and general financial market conditions; (5) uncertainties in the discovery, development or marketing or new products or new uses of existing products; (6) increased government pricing pressures; (7) interruptions in production; (8) loss of or inability to obtain adequate protection of intellectual property rights; (9) litigation; (10) loss of key executives or other employees; and (11) adverse publicity or news coverage.