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Basel, Switzerland, January 21, 2004
Roche chosen by William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation to
support HIV/AIDS initiative
An additional component in Roche's global effort to provide
healthcare for people in areas where access is limited
Roche, the leading diagnostics supplier in the world, has been
invited by the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation to procure
the supply of HIV- and AIDS-related diagnostic products to certain
Developing Countries. This is a further component in Roche's global
effort to provide health care for people in areas where access is
limited.
The agreement between the Clinton Foundation and five medical technologies
companies will cut the costs of key tests by up to 80 percent for
people with HIV/AIDS. The tests will initially be available in 16
countries and territories where the Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS
Initiative is working with governments and organizations to set
up country-wide integrated care, treatment and prevention programs.
It is hoped that up to 2 million people will be able to benefit
from the tests by the year 2008.
"Roche Diagnostics is proud to contribute to this extremely
worthy program", says Heino von Prondzynski, Head of Roche
Diagnostics and member of Roche's Executive Committee. "With
the AmpliCare initiative, the company responds to humanitarian needs
for increased direct access to its Amplicor and TaqMan HIV-1 monitor
product line for patients under HIV/AIDS treatment. By this initiative,
Roche Diagnostics is able to supply certain HIV viral load diagnostic
tests at significantly reduced prices, exclusively directed to laboratories
having the necessary infrastructure and expertise to perform PCR
testing of patients' samples in sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa
and countries defined by the United Nations as 'least developed
countries'."
The Clinton Foundation has developed a program to facilitate broad
access to high-quality HIV- and AIDS-related diagnostic products
and pharmaceuticals used in the treatment of HIV and AIDS to developing
countries on an affordable basis. In particular, it coordinates
the demand in a number of developing countries that will support
efficient, high-volume production and enable the sustainable supply
of HIV- and AIDS-related diagnostic products and treatments. The
member countries are the Republic of South Africa, Mozambique, Rwanda,
Tanzania, Haiti, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and the Organization
of Eastern Caribbean States. The Clinton Foundation Program facilitates
the purchase of diagnostic products and treatments needed for testing
and treating 1.5 to 2 million people within five years in these
countries. The Partners of this program are selected providers of
the respective industries, and Roche is proud to be among them.
HIV/AIDS & Roche
Accurate and accessible HIV- and AIDS-related diagnostic testing
is essential for optimal management and treatment of HIV and AIDS.
People who are being treated with anitretroviral drugs need to be
monitored periodically in order to check the efficacy of their treatment
and identify resistance to current treatment. At present the number
of people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS and receiving
antiretroviral treatments along with related diagnostic testing
and monitoring accounts for a relatively small proportion of the
total number of HIV and AIDS sufferers. Moreover, many of the people
affected by the disease live in developing countries where access
to diagnosis and treatment is difficult. Roche Pharma is therefore
supplying its HIV protease inhibitors (Invirase and Viracept) at
no profit in sub-Saharan Africa and to countries defined by the
UN as "Least Developed".
Corporate Philanthropy at Roche
As we are operating in countries around the world, we are working
every day to enhance the quality of people's lives by supporting
community projects, making charitable contributions and engaging
in a raft of collaborations and partnerships with non-profit organizations.
Good corporate citizenship at Roche is a multifaceted process of
commitment and action in areas ranging from humanitarian aid, health
promotion and education to environmental stewardship. Roche's contributions
range from its very transparent price and patent policies to a number
of social sponsorship programs the company supports.
The William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation
The mission of the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation is
to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout
the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence. To accomplish
this mission, the Foundation currently focuses its work in five
critical areas: Battle against HIV/AIDS, racial, ethnic and religious
reconciliation, citizen service, economic empowerment of poor people
and Leadership development. The Foundation works principally through
partnerships with like-minded individuals, organizations, corporations,
and governments, often serving as an incubator for new policies
and programs. Former President Clinton established the Foundation
and advances its mission by using his vast public and private networks
to initiate research, dialogue and action.
Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's
leading innovation-driven healthcare groups. Its core businesses
are pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is number one in the
global diagnostics market, the leading supplier of pharmaceuticals
for cancer and a leader in virology and transplantation. As a supplier
of products and services for the 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 employs roughly
65,000 people in 150 countries. The Group has alliances and research
and development agreements with numerous partners, including majority
ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. 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.
Additional information
- Roche Diagnostics: www.roche-diagnostics.com
- HIV/AIDS & Roche: www.roche-hiv.com
- Roche's commitment to Corporate Sustainability: www.roche.com/home/sustain.htm
- Roche's commitment to access to healthcare: www.roche.com/pages/downloads/sustain/pdf/comm_diff_rep.pdf
- William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation: www.clintonpresidentialcenter.com/found_index.html
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