Company Celebrates 100 Years Of Medical Innovations

Millions of lives have been changed for the better by the discovery of a revolutionary class of tranquilizers called benzodiazepines.

Discovered in the 1950s by Leo H. Sternbach, Ph.D., Lowell Randall, Ph.D. and Earl Reeder, the benzodiazepines – including Librium and Valium – safely and effectively brought relief to millions of people suffering from the symptoms of anxiety disorders, with fewer side effects than earlier psychiatric medicines.

Introduced by Roche in 1963, Valium became the most prescribed drug in the world and was one of the first blockbuster medications in the pharmaceutical industry.

Sternbach, who passed away in September of 2005 at age 97, is also credited with ushering in a new age of treatment for psychiatric illness.

Before his passing, Sternbach was inducted into the National Inventors’ Hall of Fame celebrating his breakthroughs in research and the discovery of the benzodiazepines, including Valium’s role in helping to de-stigmatize mental illness.

“It has brought me great comfort to know that I could, in some way, help people feel better. Knowing that Valium has positively impacted the lives of millions of people, and that my research has paved the way for other such discoveries, is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Sternbach said of the honor.

The discovery of benzodiazepines earned the top spot among the “Top 10 Innovations” in the 100-year history of Roche, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies. Other innovations in the top 10 are:

* Polymerase Chain Reaction, a technology that allows DNA analysis to pinpoint a disease;

* the Amplicor Monitor HIV and hepatitis C PCR kits that were the first standardized diagnostic tests using this technology;

* CellCept to prevent transplant organ rejection;

* blood glucose monitoring products for diabetics, including Accu-Chek;

* the company’s genetically engineered therapeutic proteins Roferon-A and Pegasys, the leading treatment for hepatitis C;

* Rimifon, which nearly eradicated tuberculosis;

* Fuzeon, an innovative manufacturing process for the first fusion inhibitor to treat HIV/AIDS;

* anti-cytomegalovirus compounds Cytovene/Cymevene and Valcyte;

* Naprosyn, a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medicine.

“Roche has remained at the forefront of biomedical knowledge since 1905. The advances in the detection, prevention and treatment of disease from our dedicated employees have reduced suffering and improved the health and quality of life for countless Americans,” said George Abercrombie, president and chief executive officer of Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. “We look to the next 100 years to continue that tradition.”