Roche Diagnostics has announced the relocation of its UK headquarters from Lewes to a state-of the-art, purpose-built facility of 80,000 sq.ft. in Burgess Hill, West Sussex.

Roche Diagnostics will lease its new headquarters from the Edinburgh based, Premier Property Group, who is developing the former 13-acre Ericsson site located on the Victoria Business Park in Burgess Hill, in partnership with Equity Estates.

The new facility, on four acres, will comprise highly specified office accommodation in a landmark building which could bring a great boost for the economy of mid Sussex.

Roche is one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Its UK diagnostics division currently employs over 200 people in Lewes, East Sussex and plans to take occupation of the new Burgess Hill facility upon completion of the building in the early summer of 2006.

Jan Van den Boer, General Manager, Roche Diagnostics Ltd. said, “This is a positive step forward for Roche Diagnostics in the UK and we are pleased to be moving to a site which allows us to remain in Sussex. The building will allow for the expansion of our business and will be a fantastic facility for our staff to work in and for our customers who come to visit”.

Catherine Bulcock, Director of PPG Southern Ltd, said, “PPG Southern and Equity Estates have been delighted to work with Roche Diagnostics to accommodate their requirements in what will be a significant office development adding to the profile of this important site. The remaining 9 acres – called BH23 – have been the subject of interest from a number of other occupiers who are considering this location which will make a substantial contribution to the area’s continued commercial viability.”

About Roche and the Roche Diagnostics Division
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people’s health and quality of life. Roche is a world leader in diagnostics, the leading supplier of medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market leader in virology. In 2004 sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 21.7 billion Swiss francs, while the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 7.8 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 65,000 people in 150 countries and has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. Roche’s Diagnostics Division offers a uniquely broad product portfolio and supplies a wide array of innovative testing products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories world-wide. For further information, please visit our websites www.roche.com and www.roche-diagnostics.com