-- Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 17.9 million deaths every 
      year(1), a third of all deaths globally(2) 
 
   -- Roche announces five new intended uses for key cardiac biomarkers to help 
      identify cardiovascular risk, better diagnose patients and support early 
      treatment 
 
   -- Early diagnosis and treatment can contribute to saving or improving 
      people's lives and could help healthcare systems save money 
 
   Basel, 28 April 2021 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced a 
series of five new intended uses for two key cardiac biomarkers using 
the Elecsys(R) technology: high sensitive cardiac troponin T (cTnT-hs) 
and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide test (NT-proBNP). These 
gold standard biomarkers(3) have proven to be successful in supporting 
cardiovascular disease management and can help clinicians diagnose heart 
attacks (cTnT-hs) and better manage heart failure (NT-proBNP). Roche's 
introduction of five new intended uses for these existing, globally 
accepted diagnostic solutions means more people could benefit from 
improved cardiovascular diagnostics. By providing greater precision and 
certainty for clinicians, Roche can help them tackle the world's biggest 
killer: cardiovascular diseases. 
 
   "The five new solutions we launch this month add real value for 
clinicians by supporting cardiac risk identification and improving 
diagnosis. In turn, this will help them make early treatment decisions, 
improve people's lives and reduce healthcare costs," said Thomas 
Schinecker, CEO Roche Diagnostics. "As the market leader in 
cardiovascular testing Roche is committed to innovation in 
cardiovascular care and these new intended uses are the first of many 
solutions planned over the next decade that could help improve the lives 
of millions of people." 
 
   One of the new intended uses for Elecsys(R) NT-proBNP supports 
healthcare professionals in identifying which people with type-2 
diabetes (463 million worldwide ) are at higher risk of developing 
cardiovascular disease . Early identification of people at risk means 
cardioprotective treatment can be started sooner, which could prevent 
65% of hospitalisations or deaths . The second newly-launched intended 
use for NT-proBNP provides healthcare professionals with a 
biomarker-based solution that identifies people at risk of developing 
Atrial Fibrillation (AF), an abnormal heart rhythm that can lead to 
stroke, brain damage and death . More than 37 million people suffer from 
AF globally(1) . NT-proBNP, in combination with a single lead (or 
higher) electrocardiogram, can help to successfully diagnose AF so 
therapy can be started to reduce the stroke risk(1)(1). 
 
   Another important biomarker, Elecsys(R) cTnT-hs, now provides healthcare 
professionals with data to help predict heart attack risk and mortality 
in non-cardiac surgery patients. Every year, over 200 million adults 
undergo major non-cardiac surgery with 10 million suffering from major 
adverse cardiac events (MACE) that could be prevented through early and 
accurate diagnosis(1)(2). 
 
   Both Elecsys(R) NT-proBNP and Elecsys(R) cTnT-hs can be run on all cobas 
e(R) analysers. They are among the first products certified under the 
new European In Vitro Diagnostics Regulation (IVDR) and available as of 
today in countries accepting CE mark. Availability in other countries is 
subject to local registration processes and timelines. 
 
   About Elecsys(R) NT-proBNP 
 
   Tests for NT-proBNP, a cardiac hormone that is released into the blood 
when the heart wall is stretched, are developed and marketed by Roche. 
NT-proBNP is an objective marker for the aid in diagnosis in individuals 
suspected of having congestive heart failure and detection of mild forms 
of cardiac dysfunction. This assay is further indicated for the risk 
stratification of patients with acute coronary syndrome and congestive 
heart failure, and it can also be used for monitoring the treatment in 
patients with left ventricular dysfunction. 
 
   Added intended uses for Elecsys(R) NT-proBNP 
 
   (1) Type-2 diabetes and heart failure 
 
   463 million people suffer from type-2 diabetes worldwide and are at 
higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The new intended use 
of Elecsys(R) NT-proBNP provides healthcare professionals with a precise 
biomarker that supports them to identify patients with high 
cardiovascular risk. This means that effective drug treatment can be 
started early so that cardioprotective treatment can be optimized. In 
PONTIAC-I it was shown that 65% of hospitalisations or death could be 
prevented . 
 
   (2) Atrial fibrillation 
 
   More than 37 million people suffer from Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and 25% 
of people over 40 years old develop AF in their lifetime. More than 450 
million people aged 70 or above are considered high risk for this 
disease. Patients with AF are exposed to a fivefold risk of stroke(1)(3) 
and therefore brain damage or death(1) . One of the key elements in 
reducing stroke is early detection of people at risk of Atrial 
Fibrillation by better identification methods. Our second launched 
intended use for Elecsys(R) NT-proBNP provides healthcare professionals 
with a biomarker based solution that identifies people at risk and, in 
combination with a single lead (or higher) ECG, can aid successful 
diagnosis so therapy can be started. 
 
   About Elecsys(R) cTnT-hs 
 
   The Elecsys cardiac Troponin T high-sensitivity (cTnT-hs) test from 
Roche, detects cardiac troponin which is the guideline recommended 
biomarker for the diagnosis of heart attack in clinical practice. In 
combination with an electrocardiogram (ECG), high-sensitive Troponin has 
become the gold standard for the diagnosis of heart attack. Using the 
accelerated ESC 0/1 hour algorithm with the Elecsys cTnT-hs assay, 
significantly accelerates "rule-in" and "rule-out" decision-making, 
thereby maximising the potential for effective treatment. At the same 
time, the faster decision-making may help to better manage the emergency 
room workload and related costs for healthcare systems(1) . 
 
   Added intended uses for Elecsys(R) cTnT-hs in coronary artery disease 
 
   (3) Over 200 million adults globally undergo major non-cardiac surgery 
every year. Of these, over 10 million suffer from major adverse cardiac 
events (MACE) in the first 30 days after non-cardiac surgery and more 
than 80% of those are clinically asymptomatic. The new intended use for 
Elecsys(R) cTnT-hs provides healthcare professionals with a biomarker 
that helps to predict the perioperative risk of a heart attack and to a 
perioperative heart attack in non-cardiac surgeries to allow clinicians 
to tailor surgery and post-operative care accordingly. 
 
   (4) The second newly-launched intended use for Elecsys(R) cTnT-hs makes 
the biomarker serve as an aid in assessing the long-term risk of 
cardiovascular events (death, myocardial infarction, coronary 
revascularisation, heart failure or ischemic stroke) in asymptomatic 
individuals. 
 
   (5) Elecsys(R) cTnT-hs is the gold standard for triaging patients 
suspected of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Emergency Departments and 
Intensive Care Units The third launched intended use for this biomarker 
can help to improve early discharge and outpatient management of these 
patients. 
 
   About Roche 
 
   Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on 
advancing science to improve people's lives. The combined strengths of 
pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the 
leader in personalised healthcare -- a strategy that aims to fit the 
right treatment to each patient in the best way possible. 
 
   Roche is the world's largest biotech company, with truly differentiated 
medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology 
and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world 
leader in in vitro diagnostics and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and 
a frontrunner in diabetes management. 
 
   Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, 
diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable contribution to 
society. The company also aims to improve patient access to medical 
innovations by working with all relevant stakeholders. More than thirty 
medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health 
Organization Model Lists of Essential Medicines, among them life-saving 
antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Moreover, for the 
twelfth consecutive year, Roche has been recognised as one of the most 
sustainable companies in the Pharmaceuticals Industry by the Dow Jones 
Sustainability Indices (DJSI). 
 
   The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 
100 countries and in 2020 employed more than 100,000 people worldwide. 
In 2020, Roche invested CHF 12.2 billion in R&D and posted sales of CHF 
58.3 billion. Genentech, in the United States, is a wholly owned member 
of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai 
Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com. 
 
   All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law. 
 
   References 
 
   [1] 17.9 M deaths: 
https://www.who.int/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases/#tab=tab_1 
 
   [2] A third of all deaths: Mensah, G. A., et al. (2019). "The Global 
Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk Factors." 2020 and Beyond 
74(20): 2529-2532 
 
   [3] Gold standard biomarkers: Ohman EM. Clin Chem 2017; 63: 429 
 
   Gold standard biomarkers: McKie, PM., et al. (2016). J Am Coll Cardiol 
68(22), 2437-2439 
 
   [4] Help clinicians diagnose heart attacks (cTnT-hs): Roff M et al, Eur 
Heart J 2016; 37: 267 
 
   Help clinicians diagnose heart attacks (cTnT-hs): Amsterdam EA et al., 
Circulation 2014;130:2354 
 
   [5] Better manage heart failure (NT-proBNP): Ponikowski P et al., Eur 
Heart J 2016; 37:2129 
 
   Better manage heart failure (NT-proBNP): Yancy CW et al, Circulation. 
2017;136:e137; 
 
   [6] 463 million diabetics worldwide: Saeedi P et al., Diabetes Res Clin

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April 28, 2021 01:00 ET (05:00 GMT)