Fernandez to complement the Ventana growing leadership team focused on advancing the standard of cancer patient care

Tucson, 21 November 2011. -- Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.(Ventana), a member of the Roche Group, announced today the appointment of Gerardo (Jerry) Fernandez, M.D., to the position of Medical Director, Ventana Digital Pathology, based in Sunnyvale, CA. Fernandez was most recently Vice President, Pathology of Aureon Biosciences where he also served as VP, Research & Development. Prior to this, Fernandez was an attending Pathologist at Genzyme Genetics and at several hospitals including St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital Center and Beth Israel Medical Center.

"Jerry brings considerable experience in quantitative digital imaging and is an outstanding complement to our growing leadership team," said Mara G. Aspinall, President of Ventana. Aspinall herself joined Roche in September, 2011. She was most recently Founder, President, and CEO of On-Q-ity, a start-up diagnostics company focused on circulating tumor cell technology and formerly President of Genzyme Genetics and President of Genzyme Pharmaceuticals. "In line with our mission to improve the lives of all patients afflicted with cancer, Jerry will be working closely across Ventana and Roche organizations with a focus on enabling our customers to deliver the highest standards of patient care through the most advanced digital pathology technologies and solutions available.”

Steve Burnell, VP, Ventana Digital Pathology, commented, "Digital pathology is transforming the practice of pathology in ways that will significantly impact healthcare delivery globally. Innovation in digital technologies is empowering pathologists and clinicians worldwide with tools for more efficient, repeatable, and accurate diagnoses and increasing patient access to skilled pathologists and sub-specialties. VENTANA next-generation, digital pathology solutions fully leverage our unique strengths in high quality staining platforms, assays, and innovative workflow solutions to deliver a complete end-to-end solution for pathology. In his new role, Jerry will help further shape and accelerate our digital pathology vision and commitment to personalized healthcare as a key interface and resource to the Ventana and Roche product development teams and the external medical and scientific communities.” VENTANA advanced workflow and digital pathology products include the VANTAGE workflow solution, the iScan Coreo Au slide scanner and VIRTUOSO software for image management functionality from acquisition through reporting. The VENTANA iScan HT slide scanner, launching soon, will also be integrated with VIRTUOSO.

Fernandez holds a Doctorate of Medicine from Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA and a bachelor’s degree in natural science and mathematics from Bennington College, Bennington, VT. He begins his new role in November, 2011.

The VENTANA iScan HT is for research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. Ventana products are for in vitro diagnostic use for specific applications and are research use only for other applications.

About Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (“VMSI”) (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), a member of the Roche Group, innovates and manufactures instruments and reagents that automate tissue processing and slide staining for cancer diagnostics. VENTANA solutions are used in clinical histology and drug development research laboratories worldwide. The company’s “Smart Systems” – intuitive, integrated staining and workflow management platforms that optimize laboratory efficiencies to reduce errors – support diagnosis and inform treatment decisions for anatomic pathology professionals. Together with Roche, VMSI is driving personalized medicine through accelerated drug discovery and the development of “companion diagnostics” to identify the patients most likely to respond favorably to specific therapies. Visit http://www.ventana.com to learn more.

VENTANA, the VENTANA logo, VANTAGE, iScan, and VIRTUOSO are trademarks of Roche.

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