ROCHE BIOSCIENCE FORMS RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS WITH TWO
CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES INSTITUTES

PALO ALTO, Calif., February 5, 1996 -- Roche Bioscience announced the formation of collaborations with two Chinese Academy of Sciences research institutes in support of the company's research to discover advanced pharmaceutical products to treat pain and lower urinary tract disorders.

According to the agreements, the Roche Bioscience Neurobiology Business Unit will collaborate with the Institute of Microbiology in Beijing to discover and isolate novel receptor targets and with the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry for the identification of new research targets based on Chinese medicinal products and synthesis of organic compounds. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

"Through these collaborations, Roche Bioscience gains access to some of the leading scientists in China," said Roger Whiting, Ph.D., senior vice president of the Roche Bioscience Neurobiology Business Unit. " We believe we can broaden our perspectives, increase our efficiencies and further strengthen our base in molecular biology by working with researchers at the institutes in Shanghai and Beijing."

Located in Palo Alto, Calif., Roche Bioscience is a research-based, product-focused organization dedicated to the early discovery of innovative prescription drugs. Roche Bioscience was formed as a division of Syntex (U.S.A.) Inc. in 1995 following the acquisition of Syntex by the Roche Group in 1994.

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