00:00:01 Sound health can be considered a person's most precious possession.

00:00:12 To preserve it, doctors and medical personnel maintain a round-the-clock vigil.

00:00:18 Medical progress, helped along by technology and new procedures, changes the way in which they work.

00:00:26 Scientists in the research-based pharmaceutical industry develop drugs with improved characteristics and new active substances,

00:00:35 often working in a world that is hidden to the naked eye, in the microcosm of cells and proteins.

00:00:42 In 1953, two scientists who were exploring this world came upon a major key to the secret of life,

00:00:50 the structure of the intertwined chain, or double helix, of the deoxyribonucleic acid molecule.

00:00:57 DNA, an essential component of all living cells, carrying the basic coded hereditary information on the structure and characteristics of the cell.

00:01:08 The solving of this biochemical puzzle has revolutionized medicine, biology, and chemistry.

00:01:15 It opened up new frontiers in the world of health care.

00:01:32 Roche, with headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, is committed to health care on an international scale.

00:01:39 His activities cover the whole spectrum of preventing, diagnosing, and treating illness,

00:01:44 as well as the general maintenance of good health and well-being.

00:01:49 It is reflected in the Roche group's four main fields of activity,

00:01:53 pharmaceuticals, vitamins and fine chemicals, diagnostics, fragrances, and flavors.

00:02:10 During its history of nearly one century, Roche has set a number of significant scientific and medical milestones.

00:02:21 The world-renowned Basel Institute for Immunology is a basic research institute fully financed by Roche.

00:02:29 Three scientists have been awarded Nobel Prizes for medicine for the work they carried out at the institute.

00:02:39 We investigate the structure and the function of the immune system in many different species which have such an immune system,

00:02:48 and we hope that this research will contribute to the solution of many medical problems in which the immune system plays a role,

00:02:57 so in autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, and allergies.

00:03:03 Roche invests over 20% of its pharmaceutical sales in pharmaceutical research,

00:03:09 which is based in four main centers in Basel, Well and Garden City, England, Kamakura in Japan, and Nutley in the United States.

00:03:21 Nutley, New Jersey, is also the site of another basic research facility.

00:03:26 The Roche Institute of Molecular Biology conducts work in the fields of biochemistry, genetics, and biophysics.

00:03:35 The Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, which was established in 1967, is unique in the pharmaceutical industry

00:03:43 in that its mission is to carry out long-range fundamental research and not drug development.

00:03:49 As in the past, I feel that the role of the institute today is to be in areas of research that may not have immediate application,

00:03:58 but could help to shape the future direction of Roche research.

00:04:04 One result of this future-oriented research is Roche's first genetically engineered product.

00:04:11 Genetically altered bacteria now produce interferon,

00:04:14 which has received approval for the treatment of certain forms of cancer and hepatitis.

00:04:20 Extensive clinical studies are underway for possible further applications.

00:04:27 Today's researchers have the support of a whole range of sophisticated instruments.

00:04:32 In their search for new active substances,

00:04:35 chemists can use computer graphics to simulate three-dimensional molecular structures and interactions.

00:04:42 The electron microscope is an instrument with a magnifying power of up to 200,000.

00:04:48 It is used in the study of the microstructure of chemicals and the examination of viruses and bacteria.

00:04:55 A computer-linked microfocal X-ray machine enables a precise investigation with three-dimensional images,

00:05:02 for instance, in the field of arthritis research.

00:05:13 High-quality research is the basis for further success in the worldwide fight against disease.

00:05:20 One example is tropical medicine.

00:05:23 Malaria is a major killer disease in the tropics.

00:05:27 The development of resistance in malaria parasites has complicated the search for effective treatments.

00:05:34 Nevertheless, Roche has developed successful drugs for malaria prophylaxis and treatment.

00:05:42 Their efficacy and possible long-term effects are the subject of continued clinical studies.

00:05:56 A broad utilization of anti-malarial drugs considerably increases the risks of developing resistance strains of parasite.

00:06:04 Therefore, treatment of malaria with classic medicines is becoming relatively difficult.

00:06:10 For this reason, it is essential to develop new drugs.

00:06:26 Roche has also scored success in combating bacterial infections with drugs that include one of the world's leading injectable antibiotics.

00:06:36 It only requires a once-daily dose, thereby simplifying treatment and reducing costs.

00:06:43 But anti-infectives are only one of a number of indication areas for which Roche has produced medications.

00:06:51 They include cardiovascular, anti-inflammatory, dermatological, anti-cancer, and anti-AIDS drugs.

00:07:01 Roche has been at the forefront of work in the field of the central nervous system and psychic disorders.

00:07:08 Areas addressed include anxiety, depression, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease.

00:07:14 Roche's introduction of the revolutionary benzodiazepines in the early 1960s opened up new avenues in sedation, relief from anxiety, muscle relaxation, and anti-convulsant activity.

00:07:28 More recently, Roche has developed and introduced a promising new antidepressant from another novel class of compounds.

00:07:37 The research has even gone beyond the effects of benzodiazepines to the development of an important drug to reverse their action, a so-called benzodiazepine antagonist.

00:07:48 This Roche drug finds application in anesthesia to end narcosis and in cases of benzodiazepine overdose.

00:07:56 Medicine often has to be content with treating the symptoms of an illness.

00:08:01 The causes remain unknown.

00:08:08 The discovery of the double helix helped to solve the puzzle of how hereditary information for the construction of cells is copied and passed on.

00:08:18 Some forms of disease are also genetically inherited, and modern medicine has yet to discover their cures.

00:08:25 But new opportunities have been opened by the science of molecular biology.

00:08:31 Molecular biology will cause medicine to become more diagnostic and more preventive.

00:08:37 If we know the genetic makeup of a person, we also know something about his or her disease risks.

00:08:44 We can then react to these risks by recommending changes in lifestyle, for instance in diet, and in certain cases also by drugs.

00:08:55 It is obvious that stronger diagnostic and preventive tendencies in medicine meet the economic requirements of our days.

00:09:09 The Californian biotechnology company Genentech, in which Roche has a majority holding, is exploring the huge potential offered by molecular biology.

00:09:20 Genentech pioneered four of the first six biotechnology products, including human growth hormone, which was the first product marketed by a biotechnology company.

00:09:30 Our world-class scientists are attracted to Genentech by our atmosphere that encourages leading-edge research.

00:09:37 Genentech is using the fruits of this highly productive research to fulfill unmet medical needs, such as solutions for cystic fibrosis, AIDS, and breast cancer.

00:09:48 In addition to its strong position at the leading edge of research into innovative drugs, Roche has also established itself at the other end of the scale,

00:09:58 in over-the-counter medicines which require no doctor's prescription.

00:10:03 Together with its own vitamin and dermatological OTC brands, Roche has now strengthened its place in the European market with the acquisition of Nicholas,

00:10:14 some of whose OTC brands have become household names in several European and overseas markets.

00:10:35 Roche is also a pioneer in the manufacture of vitamins.

00:10:40 Industrial-scale synthesis of vitamin C began in 1934.

00:10:45 Since the 1940s, plants for the synthesis of other vitamins have come on stream.

00:10:56 Today, Roche is the leading producer of vitamins in the world.

00:11:01 A correct supply of vitamins is a basic requirement for good health and the prevention of illnesses caused by nutritional deficiencies.

00:11:10 Vitamins maintain health and build up resistance to illness.

00:11:15 The elderly, children, pregnant women, and sports people require additional vitamins.

00:11:23 Many foodstuffs, such as bread, cereals, fruit juices, or soft drinks, are enriched with supplementary vitamins.

00:11:32 Vitamins play an important part in providing nutritional value and stability to industrially processed foods.

00:11:39 Roche also manufactures and supplies carotenoid products for use as coloring agents in food and beverages.

00:11:46 Carotenoids, chemically related to vitamin A, are organic pigments which naturally color many plants, fruits, and vegetables.

00:11:56 Roche vitamins also find their application in animal nutrition.

00:12:01 Vitamins and nature-identical pigments prevent disease and promote growth.

00:12:06 They maintain the health of cattle, poultry, and fish, and are also used in food and beverages.

00:12:11 A blood sample is also needed to determine the extracted count in bone marrow.

00:12:16 Humans and nature identical pigments prevent disease and promote growth.

00:12:21 They maintain the health of cattle, poultry and fish and are also used for pet foods and in zoos.

00:12:40 A blood sample is taken from a patient for diagnostic analysis.

00:12:46 Early detection and identification of illness enables rapid, timely and effective intervention and treatment.

00:12:54 In many cases, courier services are used to bring patient samples as quickly as possible to service laboratory centers.

00:13:02 Roche produces the reagents that serve as an early warning system for correct and economic therapy.

00:13:15 Roche's specialty reagents include immunological tests for pregnancy, hepatitis, AIDS, drug abuse and cancer.

00:13:29 Roche's diagnostics customers include doctor's practices, laboratories and hospitals.

00:13:40 Automated analytical systems built by Roche can carry out procedures using reagents and body fluid samples.

00:13:52 In the United States, Roche Biomedical Laboratories is one of the largest networks of service labs in the country.

00:13:59 This network receives, processes and delivers the test results of thousands of samples per day.

00:14:12 Roche has acquired the rights to a revolutionary diagnostic tool with enormous future potential.

00:14:19 Polymerase chain reaction, PCR, is a process which rapidly copies segments of DNA millions of times,

00:14:27 making it possible to detect just one infected white blood cell among 10,000 uninfected ones.

00:14:35 Researchers are developing commercial applications of this fast and powerful genetic probe in areas such as AIDS, leukemia and tuberculosis.

00:14:49 Fragrances and flavors serve to promote a sense of well-being and to improve the quality of life.

00:15:05 Roche's Givaudan Rouault Group is a world leader in both fragrances and flavor compounds and in ingredients for fragrances and flavors.

00:15:15 It supplies fragrances to the world's top luxury perfume makers and to manufacturers of soaps, cosmetics, detergents and other personal care and household products.

00:15:27 It also manufactures specialty ingredients for cosmetics and sunscreen filters.

00:15:37 The most advanced techniques are used in the analysis and development of fragrances and flavors.

00:15:44 The group's flavor compounds find application in foods, beverages and pharmaceutical and mouth care products.

00:15:52 In the area of food flavors, research efforts have concentrated on the development of substances that are chemically identical to the corresponding substance found in natural products.

00:16:03 They have become essential for the production of many industrially processed foods.

00:16:14 The world of Roche, which for nearly a century has been the scene of pioneer work in the services of health.

00:16:27 Today, the name Roche stands for committed research, innovative thinking, modern production technology and high quality products.

00:16:42 But the future still presents many challenges.

00:16:46 Millions of people fall victim to cancer.

00:16:49 The search is still on for effective drugs in such areas as Alzheimer's disease and rheumatic illness.

00:16:56 Malaria remains a threat and AIDS is still not curable.

00:17:02 Modern techniques of biotechnology will help to provide the answer.

00:17:07 Gene technology and classical chemical synthesis of drugs will increasingly complement each other.

00:17:13 Roche will seize the opportunities offered by these new perspectives while respecting nature and remaining true to its responsibilities towards society and the environment.

00:17:24 A company in the service of health.