Roche enters strategic alliance with Technoclone to expand reagent portfolio for coagulation diagnostics line targeted for US and Canada in 2014

Focus on reagents for thrombosis and cardiovascular diagnostics complements Roche plans to introduce comprehensive line of coagulation analyzers for hospital and reference labs

LAVAL, QC, Jan. 27, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Roche (SIX: RO ROG) (OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Technoclone, a reagent specialist in thrombosis and cardiovascular diagnostics based in Vienna, Austria, to co-develop a complete range of coagulation assays. The alliance supports plans Roche announced in October 2011 to develop a new line of analyzers for the central coagulation lab, which will be marketed under Roche's cobas® brand.  The new line is expected to be introduced in the U.S. and Canada in 2014, subject to regulatory approval and other requirements.

As part of the alliance, Roche will also market Technoclone's range of Research Use Only products that address the needs of specialists and researchers in the hemostasis research community.

"Technoclone brings considerable industry expertise to this collaboration, and the company shares our goal of bringing improved medical value to healthcare providers and patients," said Christopher Parker, President and General Manager of Roche Diagnostics Canada. "The expansion of the reagent menu into key areas of hemostasis will greatly enhance the new line of laboratory coagulation analyzers in development and will open up new opportunities for research related to targeted treatment and personalized healthcare."

The agreement follows Roche's announcement in December 2011 that it was acquiring Verum Diagnostica GmbH, a leading company in platelet function testing, the fastest-growing field in the coagulation diagnostics market.

While clinical laboratories continue to consolidate, centralize and automate their processes in response to cost pressures, global trends show an increased demand for routine and special testing such as coagulation to address the need for improved patient outcomes. Laboratory coagulation is estimated to be the fifth-largest market in professional diagnostics worldwide, representing approximately 1.3 billion USD in sales in 2010 and having a projected annual growth rate of 5.1% over the next five years.

About Technoclone
Founded in 1987, Technoclone is a leading global producer of hemostasis diagnostic products. The company was the first worldwide to offer a complete set of monoclonal antibody-based ELISAs in the field of fibrinolysis and a novel patented system allowing the determination of activity and antigen in the same sample. The company holds more than ten international patents in the diagnosis and therapy of vascular diseases and cooperates closely with universities and international research consortia. For more information visit: www.technoclone.com

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 personalised 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. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan.  Roche Canada was founded in 1931. The company employs approximately 900 people across the country, with its pharmaceuticals head office located in Mississauga, Ontario and diagnostics division based in Laval, Quebec. Roche Canada is actively involved in local communities, investing in charitable organizations and partnering with healthcare institutions across the country. For more information, visit www.roche.com or www.rochecanada.com.

COBAS is a trademark of Roche. All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law.