Riemser to Strengthen its Oncological Product Range by Acquiring Supportive Cancer Therapy Drug From F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

GREIFSWALD, Germany, February 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

RIEMSER Arzneimittel AG and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. announced RIEMSER's acquisition of the world-wide rights of Roche's oncology product, Ostac^®. This transaction marks RIEMSER's continuation of its strategy to strengthen its position as an international specialty pharma company.

RIEMSER Arzneimittel AG is extending its range of supportive cancer therapy products by purchasing the world-wide rights to Roche's Ostac^®, a drug used in chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of metastatic bone lesions. Ostac^® has been enhancing RIEMSER's oncology portfolio since the beginning of the year. During a transitional period, Roche will continue to undertake sales and marketing activities for RIEMSER until the international registrations have finally been transferred. This phase should be completed by the end of the first quarter of this year at the latest. Ostac^® will complement the existing portfolio with key products, Aloxi^® and Tepadina^®, and further strengthen RIEMSER's international presence in the oncology market.

"I am very pleased with the acquisition of Ostac^® from our business partner Roche. This is an important and well-established drug which will further strengthen our position as an international specialty pharmaceutical company," explained Dr. Michael Mehler, CEO of Riemser Arzneimittel AG. "Ostac^® is an excellent addition to our portfolio, since it will not only round off our range of oncological products but will also accelerate our company's continued internationalisation."

About Ostac^®

Ostac^® 520 mg (clodronic acid) is a first-generation bisphosphonate and is administered as part of cancer therapy for pathologically increased bone destruction (osteolysis) caused by the spreading of non-bone cells. Amongst other aspects, cancer cells or their effects lead to the increased release of calcium from bone and thus to increased calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia). Ostac^® 520 mg can be administered orally, thereby enabling outpatient therapy. Unlike other bisphosphonates (e.g. aminobisphosphonates), it contains no nitrogen compounds, contributing to its good safety profile. No acute phase reactions are known, and scientific studies verify the drug's good renal tolerability. With over 1 million documented patients, Ostac^® 520 mg is one of the most widely documented bisphosphonates. The drug is marketed in various countries under the names Ostac^®, Lytos®, Loron® and Lodronat®.

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. The Group posted sales of 47.5 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: http://www.roche.com.

About Riemser Arzneimittel AG: A company with a tradition and a future

Riemser Arzneimittel AG with headquarters in Greifswald, Germany, is a mid-sized specialty pharmaceutical company which markets and distributes its products in Germany and 72 countries worldwide. Riemser focuses mainly on human prescription-only medicines in selected therapeutic niches with high medical need.

Core therapeutic areas cover supportive oncology, anti-infectives and dermatology. In its dental group Riemser provides solutions for oral regenerative, oral implant and oral healing medicine.

For further information please contact: http://www.riemser.com

RIEMSER Arzneimittel AG, Frau Claudia Kerber, An der Wiek 7, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, http://www.RIEMSER.com, Tel.: +49-38351-76-129, Fax: +49-38351-7648, presse@riemser.de