- Roche Donates Antibiotic Rocephin(R) and its Influenza Medication
          Tamiflu(R), to Troops Guarding the Winter Olympic Games -

    SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- In a show of support for the U.S.
military, Roche hopes to protect those protecting the Olympics by donating the
injectable antibiotic Rocephin(R) and its influenza medication Tamiflu(R) to
the troops in charge of safety at the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games.
    "We have several thousand military personnel providing security to keep
our Winter Olympics safe," said Lieutenant Colonel Jack Davis, medical officer
for the 2002 Olympics Joint Task Force.  "This donation of Rocephin and
Tamiflu will contribute greatly to the health and well-being of the troops in
the extreme winter conditions of northern Utah."
    Rocephin, the first once-a-day injectable antibiotic, will be used to help
5,000 military troops at the Olympics stay healthy and ready for duty by
combating conditions such as lower respiratory, skin, urinary tract and ear
infections, as well as meningitis and pneumonia.  The donated vials (1gram
strength) will be distributed to the several military clinics established at
the troop living quarters. Rocephin is the market leader and has treated
97 million patients worldwide across multiple indications over the last
20 years.
    Tamiflu, the number one prescribed antiviral medication, has been shown to
reduce the duration and severity of the flu if taken within the first two days
of symptom onset.  It will be used to help the military troops at the Olympics
stay healthy by preventing the flu, and treating those who become infected
with the virus.  The Tamiflu donation is very timely since, according to
FluSTAR, a national surveillance system that tracks local flu activity, the
flu has officially hit Salt Lake City.
    Roche has also donated Tamiflu to the entire U.S. Olympic Delegation
attending the 2002 Winter Games.
    "We just wanted to do our part to keep our troops healthy during their
service at the Winter Olympics," said Russell Ellison, vice president, medical
affairs at Roche. "Roche is honored to support our U.S. Military."

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