Roche Launches New Hepatitis Patient Internet Site www.Hep-links.com in Support

[Guest guest]

Roche Launches New Hepatitis Patient Internet Site www.Hep-links.com in

Support of First International Hepatitis C Awareness Day

Source: PRNewswire

BASEL, Switzerland,-- Website puts people in touch with local patient groups

.. Every year the number of people newly infected with the hepatitis C virus

(HCV) increases by three to four million worldwide, adding to the 170

million people already infected. For people who have been newly diagnosed

with the virus or for anyone who is interested in seeking information about

hepatitis C, there is now a new website resource, www.Hep-links.com, which

is launching today, on the first annual international Hepatitis C Awareness

Day.

The web portal is a result of a cooperative initiative among hepatitis C and

liver disease patient associations in countries from across Europe and the

Middle East. Supported by an unrestricted grant from Roche, Hep-links.com

provides access to the websites of established local patient groups

throughout the world.

" The internet has been identified by nearly two-thirds of patients as being

their key source of information on hepatitis C, " said Ciro Caravaggio,

Hepatitis Franchise Leader at Roche. " However, patients also said that they

realised that not all of the information on the internet was credible. Hence

our decision to work with patient groups to create a trustworthy resource. "

Hep-links.com currently contains information on patient groups and resources

in 15 countries and there are plans to continue to expand with additional

countries in 2005. The web portal has been developed with input from a

steering committee of patient groups: +VE Magazine (UK); SOS Hépatites

(France); The German Liver Help Association (Germany); The Dutch National

Hepatitis Centre (The Netherlands) and The Egyptian Hepatitis Patient Care

Society (Egypt).

Information found on www.Hep-links.com includes:

- Facts about hepatitis C

- Frequently ask questions and answers

- Links to patient associations and liver organisations

- Information about relevant scientific/medical congresses and

- Links to relevant journals and publications

" You Have Company " theme of first international Hepatitis C Awareness Day

Today also marks the first international Hepatitis C Awareness Day, a day

that will be recognised annually on October 1. A consortium of European and

Middle Eastern patient groups(i) have designated this day to draw attention

to a virus that is a major global healthcare problem, infecting

approximately three per cent of the world's population. In Western Europe

alone, it is estimated that five million people have chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is one of the main causes of liver disease, cirrhosis, liver

cancer and also the leading cause of liver transplantation worldwide.

The theme of the first international awareness day is " You Have Company " .

Patient groups will initiate local activities to let newly diagnosed

patients know that this disease affects many and that they are not alone.

Red foam livers with " Hep C " on one side and the web portal address on the

other, will be given out today to physicians, nurses, and the public through

a variety of means. One aim of directing people to the web portal is to show

that they " have company " and that support and the ability to meet others

affected by hepatitis C may only be a mouse-click away.

About hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a blood-born viral infection of the liver that was first

identified only in 1989. Few people realise that they are infected as the

symptoms are non-specific (such as fatigue) and people tend to become aware

when their disease is quite advanced. Transmission by blood products has

been reduced to almost zero due to screening for the virus so today the most

common route of transmission is use of unsterilised needles (such as those

used in tattooing and by intravenous drug users) and syringes.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading

research-intensive healthcare groups. Its core businesses are

pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative 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 is number one in the global diagnostics market, the

leading supplier of medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market

leader in virology. In 2003, the Pharmaceuticals Division generated 19.8

billion Swiss francs in prescription drug sales, while the Diagnostics

Division posted sales of 7.4 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly

65,000 people in 150 countries and has R & D agreements and strategic

alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in

Genentech and Chugai.

(i)Patients groups who are in support of Hepatitis C Awareness Day include:

Carrefour Hepatite - Aide et Contact (Belgium); Vereniging voor Hepatitis C

Patiënten (Belgium); Danish Hepatitis Association (Denmark); The Egyptian

Hepatitis Patients Care Society (Egypt); SOS Hépatites France (France);

Hépatites Ecoute et Soutien (France); The German Liver Help Association

(Germany); EpaC (Italy); The Dutch Society for Liver Patients (The

Netherlands); The Dutch National Hepatitis Centre (The Netherlands);

National Union of Hepatitis C (Sweden); SOS Hépatites Génève (Switzerland);

National Hepatitis C Resource Center (United Kingdom); National Hepatitis C

Resource Center (Scotland); Hepatitis C Trust (United Kingdom); Plymouth

Eddystone Trust (United Kingdom); +VE Magazine (United Kingdom).

Source: Roche Pharmaceuticals

Contact: Sheila Gies, Roche, +1-973-687-0188; Fowler, Axon

Communications, +44-20-88-22-6779

[Guest guest]

Roche Launches New Hepatitis Patient Internet Site www.Hep-links.com in

Support of First International Hepatitis C Awareness Day

Source: PRNewswire

BASEL, Switzerland,-- Website puts people in touch with local patient groups

.. Every year the number of people newly infected with the hepatitis C virus

(HCV) increases by three to four million worldwide, adding to the 170

million people already infected. For people who have been newly diagnosed

with the virus or for anyone who is interested in seeking information about

hepatitis C, there is now a new website resource, www.Hep-links.com, which

is launching today, on the first annual international Hepatitis C Awareness

Day.

The web portal is a result of a cooperative initiative among hepatitis C and

liver disease patient associations in countries from across Europe and the

Middle East. Supported by an unrestricted grant from Roche, Hep-links.com

provides access to the websites of established local patient groups

throughout the world.

" The internet has been identified by nearly two-thirds of patients as being

their key source of information on hepatitis C, " said Ciro Caravaggio,

Hepatitis Franchise Leader at Roche. " However, patients also said that they

realised that not all of the information on the internet was credible. Hence

our decision to work with patient groups to create a trustworthy resource. "

Hep-links.com currently contains information on patient groups and resources

in 15 countries and there are plans to continue to expand with additional

countries in 2005. The web portal has been developed with input from a

steering committee of patient groups: +VE Magazine (UK); SOS Hépatites

(France); The German Liver Help Association (Germany); The Dutch National

Hepatitis Centre (The Netherlands) and The Egyptian Hepatitis Patient Care

Society (Egypt).

Information found on www.Hep-links.com includes:

- Facts about hepatitis C

- Frequently ask questions and answers

- Links to patient associations and liver organisations

- Information about relevant scientific/medical congresses and

- Links to relevant journals and publications

" You Have Company " theme of first international Hepatitis C Awareness Day

Today also marks the first international Hepatitis C Awareness Day, a day

that will be recognised annually on October 1. A consortium of European and

Middle Eastern patient groups(i) have designated this day to draw attention

to a virus that is a major global healthcare problem, infecting

approximately three per cent of the world's population. In Western Europe

alone, it is estimated that five million people have chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is one of the main causes of liver disease, cirrhosis, liver

cancer and also the leading cause of liver transplantation worldwide.

The theme of the first international awareness day is " You Have Company " .

Patient groups will initiate local activities to let newly diagnosed

patients know that this disease affects many and that they are not alone.

Red foam livers with " Hep C " on one side and the web portal address on the

other, will be given out today to physicians, nurses, and the public through

a variety of means. One aim of directing people to the web portal is to show

that they " have company " and that support and the ability to meet others

affected by hepatitis C may only be a mouse-click away.

About hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a blood-born viral infection of the liver that was first

identified only in 1989. Few people realise that they are infected as the

symptoms are non-specific (such as fatigue) and people tend to become aware

when their disease is quite advanced. Transmission by blood products has

been reduced to almost zero due to screening for the virus so today the most

common route of transmission is use of unsterilised needles (such as those

used in tattooing and by intravenous drug users) and syringes.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading

research-intensive healthcare groups. Its core businesses are

pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative 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 is number one in the global diagnostics market, the

leading supplier of medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market

leader in virology. In 2003, the Pharmaceuticals Division generated 19.8

billion Swiss francs in prescription drug sales, while the Diagnostics

Division posted sales of 7.4 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly

65,000 people in 150 countries and has R & D agreements and strategic

alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in

Genentech and Chugai.

(i)Patients groups who are in support of Hepatitis C Awareness Day include:

Carrefour Hepatite - Aide et Contact (Belgium); Vereniging voor Hepatitis C

Patiënten (Belgium); Danish Hepatitis Association (Denmark); The Egyptian

Hepatitis Patients Care Society (Egypt); SOS Hépatites France (France);

Hépatites Ecoute et Soutien (France); The German Liver Help Association

(Germany); EpaC (Italy); The Dutch Society for Liver Patients (The

Netherlands); The Dutch National Hepatitis Centre (The Netherlands);

National Union of Hepatitis C (Sweden); SOS Hépatites Génève (Switzerland);

National Hepatitis C Resource Center (United Kingdom); National Hepatitis C

Resource Center (Scotland); Hepatitis C Trust (United Kingdom); Plymouth

Eddystone Trust (United Kingdom); +VE Magazine (United Kingdom).

Source: Roche Pharmaceuticals

Contact: Sheila Gies, Roche, +1-973-687-0188; Fowler, Axon

Communications, +44-20-88-22-6779

[Guest guest]

Roche Launches New Hepatitis Patient Internet Site www.Hep-links.com in

Support of First International Hepatitis C Awareness Day

Source: PRNewswire

BASEL, Switzerland,-- Website puts people in touch with local patient groups

.. Every year the number of people newly infected with the hepatitis C virus

(HCV) increases by three to four million worldwide, adding to the 170

million people already infected. For people who have been newly diagnosed

with the virus or for anyone who is interested in seeking information about

hepatitis C, there is now a new website resource, www.Hep-links.com, which

is launching today, on the first annual international Hepatitis C Awareness

Day.

The web portal is a result of a cooperative initiative among hepatitis C and

liver disease patient associations in countries from across Europe and the

Middle East. Supported by an unrestricted grant from Roche, Hep-links.com

provides access to the websites of established local patient groups

throughout the world.

" The internet has been identified by nearly two-thirds of patients as being

their key source of information on hepatitis C, " said Ciro Caravaggio,

Hepatitis Franchise Leader at Roche. " However, patients also said that they

realised that not all of the information on the internet was credible. Hence

our decision to work with patient groups to create a trustworthy resource. "

Hep-links.com currently contains information on patient groups and resources

in 15 countries and there are plans to continue to expand with additional

countries in 2005. The web portal has been developed with input from a

steering committee of patient groups: +VE Magazine (UK); SOS Hépatites

(France); The German Liver Help Association (Germany); The Dutch National

Hepatitis Centre (The Netherlands) and The Egyptian Hepatitis Patient Care

Society (Egypt).

Information found on www.Hep-links.com includes:

- Facts about hepatitis C

- Frequently ask questions and answers

- Links to patient associations and liver organisations

- Information about relevant scientific/medical congresses and

- Links to relevant journals and publications

" You Have Company " theme of first international Hepatitis C Awareness Day

Today also marks the first international Hepatitis C Awareness Day, a day

that will be recognised annually on October 1. A consortium of European and

Middle Eastern patient groups(i) have designated this day to draw attention

to a virus that is a major global healthcare problem, infecting

approximately three per cent of the world's population. In Western Europe

alone, it is estimated that five million people have chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is one of the main causes of liver disease, cirrhosis, liver

cancer and also the leading cause of liver transplantation worldwide.

The theme of the first international awareness day is " You Have Company " .

Patient groups will initiate local activities to let newly diagnosed

patients know that this disease affects many and that they are not alone.

Red foam livers with " Hep C " on one side and the web portal address on the

other, will be given out today to physicians, nurses, and the public through

a variety of means. One aim of directing people to the web portal is to show

that they " have company " and that support and the ability to meet others

affected by hepatitis C may only be a mouse-click away.

About hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a blood-born viral infection of the liver that was first

identified only in 1989. Few people realise that they are infected as the

symptoms are non-specific (such as fatigue) and people tend to become aware

when their disease is quite advanced. Transmission by blood products has

been reduced to almost zero due to screening for the virus so today the most

common route of transmission is use of unsterilised needles (such as those

used in tattooing and by intravenous drug users) and syringes.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading

research-intensive healthcare groups. Its core businesses are

pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative 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 is number one in the global diagnostics market, the

leading supplier of medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market

leader in virology. In 2003, the Pharmaceuticals Division generated 19.8

billion Swiss francs in prescription drug sales, while the Diagnostics

Division posted sales of 7.4 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly

65,000 people in 150 countries and has R & D agreements and strategic

alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in

Genentech and Chugai.

(i)Patients groups who are in support of Hepatitis C Awareness Day include:

Carrefour Hepatite - Aide et Contact (Belgium); Vereniging voor Hepatitis C

Patiënten (Belgium); Danish Hepatitis Association (Denmark); The Egyptian

Hepatitis Patients Care Society (Egypt); SOS Hépatites France (France);

Hépatites Ecoute et Soutien (France); The German Liver Help Association

(Germany); EpaC (Italy); The Dutch Society for Liver Patients (The

Netherlands); The Dutch National Hepatitis Centre (The Netherlands);

National Union of Hepatitis C (Sweden); SOS Hépatites Génève (Switzerland);

National Hepatitis C Resource Center (United Kingdom); National Hepatitis C

Resource Center (Scotland); Hepatitis C Trust (United Kingdom); Plymouth

Eddystone Trust (United Kingdom); +VE Magazine (United Kingdom).

Source: Roche Pharmaceuticals

Contact: Sheila Gies, Roche, +1-973-687-0188; Fowler, Axon

Communications, +44-20-88-22-6779

[Guest guest]

Roche Launches New Hepatitis Patient Internet Site www.Hep-links.com in

Support of First International Hepatitis C Awareness Day

Source: PRNewswire

BASEL, Switzerland,-- Website puts people in touch with local patient groups

.. Every year the number of people newly infected with the hepatitis C virus

(HCV) increases by three to four million worldwide, adding to the 170

million people already infected. For people who have been newly diagnosed

with the virus or for anyone who is interested in seeking information about

hepatitis C, there is now a new website resource, www.Hep-links.com, which

is launching today, on the first annual international Hepatitis C Awareness

Day.

The web portal is a result of a cooperative initiative among hepatitis C and

liver disease patient associations in countries from across Europe and the

Middle East. Supported by an unrestricted grant from Roche, Hep-links.com

provides access to the websites of established local patient groups

throughout the world.

" The internet has been identified by nearly two-thirds of patients as being

their key source of information on hepatitis C, " said Ciro Caravaggio,

Hepatitis Franchise Leader at Roche. " However, patients also said that they

realised that not all of the information on the internet was credible. Hence

our decision to work with patient groups to create a trustworthy resource. "

Hep-links.com currently contains information on patient groups and resources

in 15 countries and there are plans to continue to expand with additional

countries in 2005. The web portal has been developed with input from a

steering committee of patient groups: +VE Magazine (UK); SOS Hépatites

(France); The German Liver Help Association (Germany); The Dutch National

Hepatitis Centre (The Netherlands) and The Egyptian Hepatitis Patient Care

Society (Egypt).

Information found on www.Hep-links.com includes:

- Facts about hepatitis C

- Frequently ask questions and answers

- Links to patient associations and liver organisations

- Information about relevant scientific/medical congresses and

- Links to relevant journals and publications

" You Have Company " theme of first international Hepatitis C Awareness Day

Today also marks the first international Hepatitis C Awareness Day, a day

that will be recognised annually on October 1. A consortium of European and

Middle Eastern patient groups(i) have designated this day to draw attention

to a virus that is a major global healthcare problem, infecting

approximately three per cent of the world's population. In Western Europe

alone, it is estimated that five million people have chronic hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is one of the main causes of liver disease, cirrhosis, liver

cancer and also the leading cause of liver transplantation worldwide.

The theme of the first international awareness day is " You Have Company " .

Patient groups will initiate local activities to let newly diagnosed

patients know that this disease affects many and that they are not alone.

Red foam livers with " Hep C " on one side and the web portal address on the

other, will be given out today to physicians, nurses, and the public through

a variety of means. One aim of directing people to the web portal is to show

that they " have company " and that support and the ability to meet others

affected by hepatitis C may only be a mouse-click away.

About hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a blood-born viral infection of the liver that was first

identified only in 1989. Few people realise that they are infected as the

symptoms are non-specific (such as fatigue) and people tend to become aware

when their disease is quite advanced. Transmission by blood products has

been reduced to almost zero due to screening for the virus so today the most

common route of transmission is use of unsterilised needles (such as those

used in tattooing and by intravenous drug users) and syringes.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading

research-intensive healthcare groups. Its core businesses are

pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative 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 is number one in the global diagnostics market, the

leading supplier of medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market

leader in virology. In 2003, the Pharmaceuticals Division generated 19.8

billion Swiss francs in prescription drug sales, while the Diagnostics

Division posted sales of 7.4 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly

65,000 people in 150 countries and has R & D agreements and strategic

alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in

Genentech and Chugai.

(i)Patients groups who are in support of Hepatitis C Awareness Day include:

Carrefour Hepatite - Aide et Contact (Belgium); Vereniging voor Hepatitis C

Patiënten (Belgium); Danish Hepatitis Association (Denmark); The Egyptian

Hepatitis Patients Care Society (Egypt); SOS Hépatites France (France);

Hépatites Ecoute et Soutien (France); The German Liver Help Association

(Germany); EpaC (Italy); The Dutch Society for Liver Patients (The

Netherlands); The Dutch National Hepatitis Centre (The Netherlands);

National Union of Hepatitis C (Sweden); SOS Hépatites Génève (Switzerland);

National Hepatitis C Resource Center (United Kingdom); National Hepatitis C

Resource Center (Scotland); Hepatitis C Trust (United Kingdom); Plymouth

Eddystone Trust (United Kingdom); +VE Magazine (United Kingdom).

Source: Roche Pharmaceuticals

Contact: Sheila Gies, Roche, +1-973-687-0188; Fowler, Axon

Communications, +44-20-88-22-6779