Roche Diagnostics Supports Fight Against MRSA as a Sponsor of Annual World MRSA Day on October 1

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — As part of its ongoing work in the
prevention and control of serious infections in healthcare settings, Roche (SIX:
RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today its sponsorship of the 3rd Annual World
MRSA Day. The kick-off event and global MRSA summit will be held on October 1,
2011, at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill.

Organized by the MRSA Survivors Network, World MRSA Day highlights the
importance of a comprehensive approach to controlling MRSA
(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a type of bacterium that is
resistant to common antibiotics and can cause serious infections. High rates of
infection and mortality and high costs of treatment due to healthcare-associated
infections (HAIs) caused by MRSA are a critical issue for healthcare facilities
worldwide. The goal for the event is to raise widespread awareness of the need
for greater MRSA prevention, screening, treatment and education.

“Roche applauds the MRSA Survivors Network for bringing this important issue to
the forefront and we are honored to be a sponsor of World MRSA Day,” said Jack
Phillips, president and CEO of Roche Diagnostics Corporation.
“Healthcare-associated infections caused by MRSA are preventable, and we believe
that more education, together with effective screening and infection control
programs, can significantly reduce the spread of MRSA and its consequences.”

The kick-off event, which features MRSA expert and former CDC scientist William
R. Jarvis, M.D., as keynote speaker, will be broadcast live via web stream
starting at 10:30 a.m. central time on Oct. 1 and can be viewed at
www.worldmrsaday.org and www.MRSAsurvivors.org.

About HAIs and MRSA screening

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) caused by MRSA are a tremendous burden
for healthcare systems and hospitals and are associated with significant
healthcare costs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has
estimated that approximately 18,000 persons die of invasive MRSA HAIs in U.S.
healthcare facilities annually – more than from HIV/AIDS – underscoring the need
for comprehensive infection control programs, along with more rapid and reliable
MRSA screening methods. In response to this public health issue, an increasing
number of states have passed legislation requiring mandatory reporting and/or
screening for HAIs.

About Roche

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused
healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is
the world’s largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in
oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and CNS. Roche is also the world
leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in
diabetes management. Roche’s personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing
medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health,
quality of life and survival of patients. In 2010, Roche had over 80,000
employees worldwide and invested over 9 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Group
posted sales of 47.5 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly
owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai
Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com or
www.roche-diagnostics.us.

All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.

For further information, please contact:
Betsy Cox
Director, Corporate Communications
Roche Diagnostics Corporation
Indianapolis, IN
(317) 521-3911
betsy.cox@roche.com

SOURCE Roche Diagnostics