Indianapolis, Ind. April 26, 2004

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Presents Living and Giving Award to Roche Diagnostics for Second Year in a Row

At the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Seventh Annual Gala, the Foundation's Indiana State Chapter awarded Roche Diagnostics with the 2004 Living and Giving Award. This marks the second year in a row that Roche has been honored with this distinction. The award is given annually to the individual or company that makes significant contributions to JDRF's efforts to serve people with diabetes and to find a cure.

Earlier this year, Roche Diagnostics announced that it was providing approximately $1.5 million in in-kind donations of its ACCU-CHEK® Compact blood glucose meters, ACCU-CHEK Softclix Lancet devices, and educational literature to JDRF. The ACCU-CHEK products and educational literature are included in the JDRF Bags of Hope and JDRF Teen Paks for 2004 in the U.S. These bags contain a collection of encouraging and educational materials for newly diagnosed children with diabetes and their families.

The event also featured a "Fund-A-Cure" drive in which donations were made directly to fund a diabetes research grant. The Indiana State Chapter of JDRF will name a grant in honor of Roche Diagnostics for the company's support of JDRF and the diabetes community.

"Roche Diagnostics has formed a strong relationship with the JDRF, and we are honored to receive this community award for the second year. We not only support JDRF as a company, but many Roche people volunteer their time at our local JDRF," said Martin Madaus, President and CEO, Roche Diagnostics Corporation. "This personal involvement really speaks to the important services that JDRF provides to local children with diabetes and their families."

"We are thrilled to once again honor Roche Diagnostics with our Living and Giving Award for their leadership in helping JDRF find a cure for juvenile diabetes and its complications," said Robin Harding, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for JDRF. "The award recognizes the growing contributions of Roche Diagnostics, and the wonderful people behind the company who give so generously of their time."

The event raised $300,000 and proceeds will go towards funding research to find a cure for diabetes.

For more information about ACCU-CHEK products and living with diabetes, please visit the ACCU-CHEK web site at www.accu-chek.com. You may also visit the JDRF web site at: www.jdrf.org.

JDRF, the world's leading nonprofit, nongovernmental funder of diabetes research, was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes-a disease which strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin-dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $680 million to diabetes research worldwide. The organization's mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. For more information, visit the JDRF website at www.jdrf.org, or call 800-533-CURE.

About Roche and the Roche Diagnostics Division
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. Roche Diagnostics' North American headquarters are in Indianapolis, Indiana (www.roche-diagnostics.us). For further information, please visit our websites www.roche.us and www.roche-diagnostics.com.

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ACCU-CHEK is a trademark of a member of The Roche Group.