Roche makes significant investment to establish a global site for Pharmaceutical Development in Canada

Roche makes significant investment to establish a global site for Pharmaceutical Development in Canada

Ontario Government helps create 200 highly-skilled jobs in life sciences

Mississauga - August 16, 2011 - Roche Canada is pleased to announce an investment of over $190 million over the next five years in a global development site, bringing 200 highly-skilled and specialized jobs to Mississauga. This investment is made in partnership with Ontario's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, as part of the government's plan to create jobs and strengthen local economies. Individuals at this Pharmaceutical Development site, one of six in the world, will manage operations for all stages of global clinical trial research, significantly contributing to the development of highly innovative medicines to benefit patients worldwide.

"Roche Canada's global development site provides an impressive model for what can be achieved in Ontario," said the Honourable Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade. "This project will continue to attract the best and brightest minds to our province, and will create a cascade of benefits in the scientific community providing opportunities for collaboration and contribution to the growth of the province's knowledge-based economy."

Roche Canada was selected as a global development site, in part, because Ontario offers the environment necessary to support drug discovery and development, including an educated and capable workforce, and a favourable business environment supported by a government that places a high strategic priority on life sciences. This expansion project is supported by a $7.79 million investment from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, and reflects the shared commitment of Roche and the Government of Ontario to build long-term prosperity and international leadership in life sciences and biopharmaceuticals in the province.

"As a leader in research and development, and biotechnology, we are extremely pleased to bring global Pharmaceutical Development opportunities to Ontario," said Ronnie Miller, President and CEO of Roche Canada. "We have built a respected clinical expertise within the Roche global network, and this new capability will firmly establish Roche Canada, and the province of Ontario, as a global hub for life sciences and biopharmaceuticals.  Above all, we are excited about the promise this holds for patients in Canada and around the world."

Over the next five years, study management leadership positions such as global trial and data management will be brought to Roche Canada's Pharmaceutical Development site.  The first positions have been filled. It is expected that renovations to house the global site will begin, and several more positions will be filled, later this summer and fall. The roles will include Global Study Management, Global Data Management and Product Development Regulatory, which means that Canada will provide global leadership and coordination for clinical development that will take place through its substantial affiliate R&D network conducting clinical trials in more than 60 countries.

Roche, the world's largest biotech company and global investor in R&D[i], is an industry-leading innovator in life sciences, developing products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. It has one of the most extensive pipelines in the industry, and a robust, collaborative global R&D network. Canada is an established leader within the network for clinical trial recruitment, with more than 100 clinical trials currently underway in this country, involving more than 3,000 patients. This new site will further establish Canada's expertise in the support and management of Roche's pharmaceutical development on a global scale.  

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 is a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche's personalized 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. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan.

Roche Canada was founded in 1931. The company employs approximately 900 people across the country, with its pharmaceuticals head office located in Mississauga, Ontario and diagnostics division based in Laval, Quebec. Roche Canada is actively involved in local communities, investing in charitable organizations and partnering with healthcare institutions across the country. For more information, visit www.rochecanada.com.