We Pursue The Answers

Life writes the questions
We pursue the answers

Life writes the questions.
Roche We Innovate Healthcare
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What will help me?

Can I have hope?

When will the others notice?

How much life is six months?

How bad can it get?

Am I alone?

What about my family?

Will my life change?

What if I’m not ready yet?

What’s fair?

How can I protect us?

How many summers have I got left?

Have I expected too much?

Should I ﬁght?

How much longer?

Aren’t I too young?

Who can tell me if I’m doing the right thing?

Is it right to give up?

Is there a solution?

When it comes to disease there are as many questions as people.
We can’t provide an answer to them all – but we can help with our expertise.
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Roche We Innovate Healthcare
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Innovation is our answer to medical
challenges. Our daily work is saving
patients’ lives and helping millions of
people around the world. We continu-
ously invest in medical research and
development to provide new drugs
and diagnostic products for condi-
tions such as cancer, AIDS, hepatitis,
Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid
arthritis and diabetes.
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Roche We Innovate Healthcare
Roche We Innovate Healthcare
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Roche
in a nutshell
Focus on unsolved medical problems
For more than 110 years Roche has played a pio-
neering role in healthcare. Today, as world leader in
in-vitro diagnostics, we supply a wide range of diag-
nostic instruments and tests for rapid and reliable
disease detection and monitoring by doctors, labora-
tories or patients themselves. In the therapeutic ﬁeld,
Roche has brought many highly effective drugs onto
the market in the last few years. Our daily work
focuses on disease areas where medical needs are
great. These include cancers, viral infections, meta-
bolic and central nervous system disorders and
inﬂammatory diseases. Roche is the world’s leading
supplier of prescription drugs for cancer treatment.
Broad access to innovation
Roche invests heavily in the research and develop-
ment of new drugs and diagnostic products and
complements its own worldwide research activities
with a wealth of cooperation agreements with uni-
versities, research institutes and biotech companies.
This network and our majority stakes in Genentech
in the USA and Chugai in Japan provide us with
broad access to innovation. As the world’s largest
biotech company, we exploit the latest discoveries
and technologies to develop our products. Together
We discover, develop and deliver innovative diagnostic
with our partners we turn the multiplicity of ideas
into medical solutions.
and therapeutic products and services that transform
patients’ lives and bring real beneﬁts – from early detection
Personalised medicine – an interplay
The rapid progress in research gives us important
and prevention of diseases to diagnosis, treatment and
of diagnosis and treatment
insights into the molecular mechanisms of disease.
We also know that two people can react differently
treatment monitoring.
to the same medication and that this is based on
variations in our genes. Personalised medicine takes
these new discoveries into account in the develop-
ment of drugs and diagnostic tests. Roche plays a
pioneering role in this area and is already marketing
the ﬁrst personalised medicinal products that are
tailored to the needs of speciﬁc patient groups.
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Roche We Innovate Healthcare
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Oncology
Cancer is not a single, static disease. It is a complex condition of
1,000,000,000 US $ investment
which over 250 types have been identiﬁed so far. Its development
involves a multitude of changes in the affected cells, and this
7,000,874 hours of work
makes it difﬁcult to ﬁght.
6587 experiments
423 researchers
1 drug
World leader in innovative cancer drugs
Precise diagnosis – the key to successful
Roche currently has a number of innovative cancer
treatment
drugs on the market. They give patients the most
Precise diagnosis is the key to successful treatment.
important thing in life: time to live. Five of these
Biomarkers, i.e. components of our body cells that
drugs – Herceptin, Avastin, MabThera/Rituxan,
can be used as indicators for the disease, will enable
Xeloda and Tarceva – offer clear survival beneﬁts
doctors to determine which cancer type a patient
in different types of cancer and each has its own
has much more quickly and speciﬁcally. We are also
unique mechanism of action that halts tumour
working to identify tumour markers that will detect
growth. In addition to these products, we supply
tumour cells long before the ﬁrst symptoms become
a variety of therapies that help to ease the possible
apparent. This information will help physicians to ini-
side effects associated with cancer treatment.
tiate targeted and effective treatment without delay,
thereby enhancing patient well-being and decreasing
the cost to the healthcare system.
Roche searches for potential cures
Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms
of tumour development and how tumours spread has
continually improved. This helps our scientists to tar-
get the processes that lead to cancer. This is an area
where biopharmaceuticals, and especially highly
speciﬁc antibodies, play an important role. Our goal
is to use modern technologies to make these bio-
pharmaceuticals even more effective in the future.
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in
the industrialised world and its incidence is growing.
But if detected early enough, many forms of the disease
can be effectively treated.
Figures are approximate.
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Roche We Innovate Healthcare
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Virology
Viral diseases are an insidious and serious health hazard. Viruses
are often not detected early enough, which allows them to spread
The revolution
uncontrolled. Their inﬁnite adaptability also makes them hard
to target and trap.
in our diagnostic instruments
Flu is a real challenge to our immune system
New mechanisms of action help those living
Every year ﬂu viruses attack the immune systems
with HIV/AIDS
of 100 million people in Europe, Japan and the USA
HIV/AIDS remains incurable. But deaths from AIDS
alone, and up to 500,000 people die each year world-
have declined dramatically in recent years. This is
wide. By changing their proﬁle slightly every year,
due in no small part to modern molecular diagnostics
they make it difﬁcult for our immune system to ﬁght
whose capacity for rapid, reliable and routine detec-
them off. In a joint project, Roche and Gilead devel-
tion and monitoring of the virus and virus resistance
oped Tamiﬂu, a drug that attacks the ﬂu virus and
enables patients’ treatment to be adjusted accord-
is now used throughout the world for the treatment
ingly. We are proud to have developed two entirely
and prevention of inﬂuenza.
new classes of effective drugs that represent major
breakthroughs for HIV treatment and patients.
Early detection of hepatitis increases
the likelihood of cure
Roche responds to global challenges
Hepatitis is a viral infection that can go undetected
The world’s poorest countries have access to our
in the body for years. Left untreated, it can lead to
virology products. By adopting a combination of
cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer. Detection and
tiered pricing, a ﬂexible patent policy and technology
treatment are essential in the early stages when the
transfer initiatives, we’re making it easier for them to
likelihood of cure is relatively high. Tests that diag-
address their healthcare challenges. We’re working
nose and monitor the virus in the blood and treatment
in partnership with the World Health Organization
with our biotech drug Pegasys have helped many of
(WHO), committed governments, non-governmental
the people who have been infected. Unfortunately,
organisations and other stakeholders to develop so-
not all patients respond equally well to this treatment.
lutions that beneﬁt the least developed countries.
That’s why we’re working intensively on new strate-
gies to provide effective treatment to more patients.
Flu, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS are some of the most
widespread viral infections. Once upon a time, only
temperatures were taken to give an indication of illness.
Today’s molecular medicine offers new diagnostic
techniques and treatments to relieve suffering, limit
new infections and reduce mortality.
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Roche We Innovate Healthcare
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Metabolism
Regulation of our body’s blood sugar level is a vital yet delicate
balance, which can easily be disrupted. The result is diabetes.
This drop
The WHO estimates that more than 180 million people worldwide
suffer from diabetes. Type 2 diabetes – the commonest form of the
can save lives
disease – is now recognised globally as a growing epidemic.
Independence for people with diabetes
Diabetes prevention in Africa
Diabetes isn’t a disease you can necessarily feel
The number of people with type 2 diabetes appears
– to detect it and keep it under control, there’s no
to be increasing signiﬁcantly in rural South Africa.
substitute for regularly checking your blood sugar
The Phelophepa train, a South African community
levels. Testing takes just a single drop of blood and
health clinic on rails which Roche has sponsored
a few minutes. We offer a wide range of products
since its inception, helps people to prevent the onset
that make it easy for people with diabetes to check
of diabetes and to recognise its symptoms. The train
their blood sugar levels consistently in day-to-day
brings primary healthcare services, general medical
situations.
care and health education programmes to rural
areas. Roche’s commitment to Phelophepa exempli-
Roche – the leader in diabetes care
ﬁes our philosophy of collaborative and sustainable
For over 30 years our Accu-Chek blood glucose
corporate donations. We believe in supporting novel,
meters have ensured precise and rapid blood sugar
practical solutions that are tailored to local condi-
measurement both at home and on the move. Not
tions and needs and that can be implemented in
only that, they have become increasingly easy to
conjunction with committed local partners.
operate. State-of-the-art measurement, infusion and
data processing systems help doctors and patients
to implement comprehensive diabetes management
and hence optimise treatment. Regular blood sugar
monitoring gives people with diabetes a major advan-
tage, enabling them to lower the risk of potentially
life-threatening complications.
New research strategies focus on metabolism
Diabetes is a complex chronic disease. But it can be
Researching new drugs against diabetes means
taking a patient’s metabolism into account. Recog-
controlled through a combination of the right lifestyle,
nising that obesity, lipid metabolism disorders and
good health management and new treatment strategies.
high blood pressure are closely associated with
The core component in controlling diabetes is careful
diabetes, Roche is testing various compounds that
act at key metabolic interfaces. At the same time
blood sugar monitoring.
we’re using a new comprehensive approach called
systems biology to research the central role played
by the body’s insulin-producing cells.
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Roche We Innovate Healthcare
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Inflammation
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most common autoimmune
diseases, affecting more than 21 million people worldwide.
Our contribution
In 30–40% of cases conventional drugs are ineffective or poorly
tolerated. Now, biopharmaceuticals are paving the way for a new
to enhancing quality of life
treatment that can impede progression of the disease and
prevent joint damage and pain.
Roche goes to the root of the disease
Intensive collaboration with patient
Our researchers are looking to deepen their under-
organisations
standing of the immune system and pinpoint the
It is important to us to gain a greater understanding
causes and course of arthritis. Their discoveries have
of what it is like to live with this and other diseases,
already resulted in new drugs offering real patient
and to comprehend the challenges facing patients
beneﬁts. Biopharmaceuticals such as MabThera/
and their families. That’s why we collaborate closely
Rituxan in rheumatoid arthritis selectively intervene
with different patient organisations – to gain know-
in the molecular course of the disease without weak-
ledge, for example, about disease-related problems
ening the immune system as a whole. This new
or the user-friendliness of drugs which only they
mechanism of action alleviates pain and holds the
can supply. This cooperation also enables Roche
disease in check.
to gather experience that is channelled into support
for doctors and nursing staff, and in this way bene-
The earlier the diagnosis, the better
ﬁts patients.
Currently doctors rely on a constellation of signs
and symptoms to make a ﬁrm diagnosis of rheuma-
toid arthritis. By that time many patients are already
disabled by their damaged joints. Our goal is earlier
detection using a reliable disease indicator in the
form of a biomarker incorporated in a diagnostic
test. Only then will doctors be able to intervene early
enough to prevent joint damage and disability.
We speak of an autoimmune disease when the body
turns on itself and the immune system mistakes “self”
for “non-self”. Innovative biopharmaceuticals offer
a defence against this autoimmune attack.
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Roche We Innovate Healthcare
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Central nervous system
Central nervous system disorders are among the world’s greatest
unresolved health problems, and Alzheimer’s disease is one of the
The most effective drug
biggest threats facing aging industrial societies. There is currently
no prospect of a cure for Alzheimer’s, only the possibility of slowing
when it comes to the brain
its progression.
Fighting forgetfulness with therapeutic
Responsible action
antibodies
Research entails responsibility. That’s why we’ve
We’re thinking outside the box to attack the dis-
always applied the highest ethical standards in re-
ease at its root. We’re researching various strategies
search and development, reﬂected for example in
for dissolving the brain deposits, known as plaques,
our guidelines governing genetic research or clinical
that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. One
trials. Before a drug comes to market a regulatory
promising approach, identiﬁed in collaboration with
authority must approve it. This approval process in-
a partner, is based on a human therapeutic antibody
cludes pre-clinical laboratory and animal studies, as
that is custom-designed for this purpose. Patients
well as clinical trials to demonstrate the safety and
will beneﬁt because removal of the deposits has been
efﬁcacy of the drug. We believe that we have an ethi-
linked to improved cognitive functioning.
cal obligation to inform the public about our clinical
trials and their results so that this information can be
New perspectives for schizophrenia patients
helpful to patients and physicians.
Years of research on the central nervous system is
leading us in new directions and towards innovative
approaches to the treatment of schizophrenia. We
have discovered compounds that differ in their mech-
anism of action from the classical antipsychotics
currently used to treat schizophrenia. This may bring
fresh hope to patients with psychiatric disorders.
Developing effective drugs for diseases such as Alzheimer’s,
schizophrenia or depression is a major challenge.
Nevertheless, research in these areas has progressed
enormously in the last few decades.
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Roche We Innovate Healthcare
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Personalised medicine
Our aim is to continue tailoring medicine as closely as possible
to patients’ needs. As one of the world’s leading healthcare
This molecule
companies, and given our combined strengths in pharmaceuticals
and diagnostics, there’s no one better suited for the task of devel-
makes the difference
oping personalised medicine.
People are different and so are diseases
Medicine is becoming increasingly personalised
Individuals react differently to speciﬁc medications
Over the last few years Roche has given various
due to the variations in their genes. Moreover, many
examples in the ﬁelds of cancer treatment and viral
diseases occur in genetically distinct subtypes that
diseases of how the interweaving of diagnostic and
vary in their clinical course and prognosis. Thus, two
pharmaceutical expertise paves the way for person-
patients who seemingly have the same disease and
alised medicine. Our aim is to provide healthcare
are treated with the same medicine may respond in
professionals with more powerful diagnostic tools
radically different ways. One may beneﬁt fully from
and targeted treatments based on the new insights
treatment, while the other experiences unwanted side
into how diseases arise at the molecular level.
effects or derives no clinical beneﬁt at all.
Setting our sights on the future
Variations in our genes
We’re convinced that only innovation can maintain
How well certain drugs work depends in many cases
the requisite quality of healthcare over the long term.
on speciﬁc gene variations in patients. A modern
Innovation is the core of our strategy and the key to
DNA chip (AmpliChip CYP450 test) enables doctors
safer, more cost-effective and more people-friendly
to identify these variations in a minute amount of
medicines.
DNA. Based on this knowledge, they can then adjust
treatment accordingly. As a result patients receive
the right dosage of the right drug, which leads to
a better treatment outcome.
Every patient expects the best possible treatment. Science
helps to provide it. Growing insights into the causes
and progression of diseases on a molecular level offer the
opportunity to improve the way we diagnose and treat
disease. People are different, and for that reason one size
does not ﬁt all.
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Roche We Innovate Healthcare
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There are as many answers as people.
We continue to research individual solutions.
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Roche We Innovate Healthcare
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Published by
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
Corporate Communications
4070 Basel, Switzerland
© 2008
All trademarks mentioned enjoy legal protection.
This brochure is available in
German, English, Spanish and French.
Printed on FSC-certiﬁed paper
Concept and design
Interbrand Zintzmeyer & Lux, Zurich
Printed in Switzerland by
Birkhäuser + GBC, Reinach BL
World Wide Web
http://www.roche.com
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Roche We Innovate Healthcare

Published by
F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
Corporate Communications
4070 Basel, Switzerland
© 2008
All trademarks mentioned enjoy legal protection.
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