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International Prix Galien 2004: Revolutionary HIV Drug Fuzeon Receives Most Prestigious Award for Innovation in Pharmaceutical Industry

Basel, Switzerland (ots/PRNewswire)

Today, HIV drug Fuzeon
(enfuvirtide or T-20) was awarded the 2004 International Prix Galien
for the most innovative new medicine. Fuzeon was selected out of 12
major new drugs in all therapeutic areas which each won national
awards. Since 1970 Roche has won a total of 24 international and
national Prix Galien medals, notably winning the international award
twice in the field of HIV. This reflects Roche's strong track record
in innovation across its entire product portfolio.
"Fuzeon was considered as the clear winner by the whole jury
because it represents a new therapeutic approach, in fact the only
new class of antiretroviral HIV drugs to emerge in the last eight
years. Fuzeon markedly contributes to a significant increase in
patients' quality of life", said Professor Walter Osswald, the
President of the International Prix Galien Jury.
"This distinguished award is another testimony to Roche's unique
innovation capabilities enhancing the development of truly novel
medicines; this also brings great pride and motivation to everyone at
Roche", said William M. Burns, Head of Roche's Pharmaceuticals
Division. "However, innovation is only one milestone of Fuzeon's
success; the next crucial step is getting the drug to those who need
it."
Fuzeon - bringing the medicine to patients
Despite this acknowledgement of the drug as a huge technological
advance, Roche's latest research showed that as many as 4 out of 5
eligible patients are missing the opportunity to benefit from this
breakthrough. To ensure all eligible patients who need Fuzeon can
benefit from the drug Roche is currently working with physicians,
patient organisations and government agencies. Education programmes
are leading to improved access. Within just three months, Fuzeon
patients are twice as likely to achieve undetectable levels of virus
in their blood compared to those who are not taking Fuzeon(1). Roche
has recently launched comprehensive nurse-to-patient and
patient-to-patient support initiatives to help coach patients through
the first three critical months of therapy by which time dramatic
benefits of Fuzeon can be seen and self-injection becomes routine.
"The immediacy and magnitude of Fuzeon's benefits is a strong
incentive for pre-treated patients to embrace Fuzeon as a core part
of their next HIV treatment cocktail and, furthermore, data now show
that these benefits can be maintained for two years," commented Dr
Anton Pozniak, Consultant Physician, Department of HIV and
Genitourinary, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, UK.
International Prix Galien Award
The International Prix Galien award recognises significant
advances in pharmaceutical research. Each year, the award is an
opportunity to recognise the most important drugs introduced into the
public market and the most significant research team in the
pharmaceutical field. The Galien award has grown into a huge event
and is now considered as the industry's equivalent of the Nobel prize
and the highest accolade for pharmaceutical research and development.
Winning three International Prix Galien medals (1992 Neupogen;
1998 Invirase; 2004 Fuzeon) Roche has won the most international
awards of any company. To date in 2004 Fuzeon has won a total of four
national Prix Galien medals in Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and UK.
Other nationally awarded Roche medicines include Herceptin against
breast cancer (2002) and the antiparkinson agent Madopar (1974).
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's
leading innovation-driven healthcare groups. Its core businesses are
pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of 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 pharmaceuticals for
cancer and transplantation and a market leader in virology. In 2003
prescription drug sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 19.8
billion Swiss francs, while the Diagnostics Division posted sales of
7.4 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 65,000 people in 150
countries and has alliances and R&D agreements with numerous
partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and
Chugai.
All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are legally
protected.
References:
1. Arasteh et al. XV IAC Bangkok, Thailand, 2004. Abstract
MoOrB1058XX
For further information:
www.roche-hiv.com
www.roche.com/home/sustain/sus_med.htm

Contact:

Media Relations Contacts, Alexander Watson, Phone: +44-7712-675-990,
E-mail: alexander.watson@ketchum.com

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