* Discovery and development of novel small molecules and antibodies for COPD
  * Research access payment of EUR 6 million for Galapagos
  * R&D, regulatory and sales milestones for Galapagos could exceed EUR
    400 million plus royalties


Mechelen,  Belgium; 11 January  2010 - Galapagos  NV (Euronext:  GLPG) announced
today that it has entered into a global multi-year strategic alliance with Roche
(SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) to develop potential new therapies in COPD (chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease).

In  the alliance, Galapagos will apply its target discovery platform to discover
novel  COPD  targets.   Galapagos  is  then  responsible  for  the discovery and
development  of new small molecule candidate drugs against these targets.  Roche
will  have  an  exclusive  option  to  license each small molecule program after
either  clinical candidate selection or completion  of Phase I clinical trials.
In  addition, Roche has an exclusive option  to license the COPD targets for the
discovery  and development of antibodies against these targets. Upon exercise of
each option, Roche will be responsible for the further (pre)clinical development
and commercialization.

Under  the  terms  of  the  agreement,  Galapagos has received a research access
payment  of EUR  6 million from  Roche.  Galapagos  is also  eligible to receive
discovery,  development,  regulatory  and  sales  milestone  payments that could
potentially exceed EUR 400 million, plus royalties upon commercialization of any
products covered in the agreement.

"This  alliance with  Roche on  discovering novel  COPD targets demonstrates the
versatility of Galapagos' target discovery platform in identifying novel targets
across   a   wide  range  of  therapeutic  areas.   We  are  excited  that  this
collaboration  will focus  on both  antibodies and  small molecules as potential
drugs  for  COPD,"  said  Onno  van  de Stolpe, CEO of Galapagos.  "Roche's vast
experience  in developing  and commercializing  antibodies makes  it the perfect
partner for this combined approach."

"Galapagos'  track record in discovering novel  therapeutic targets and its drug
discovery  expertise make it  an ideal partner  for our COPD discovery program,"
said  Satwant Narula, head of discovery for the inflammation area of Roche.  "We
feel  confident that this alliance will bring  new mode of action drugs for COPD
into the clinic for Roche."

About COPD
COPD   (chronic  obstructive  pulmonary  disease)  is  a  chronic  lung  disease
characterized  by difficulty  breathing and  persistent coughing.  COPD includes
the  diseases commonly  referred to  as chronic  bronchitis and  emphysema.  The
primary  causes of COPD  are tobacco smoke  and air pollution,  which damage and
irritate lung tissue, resulting in a narrowing of the airways.

COPD  affects  approximately  210 million  people  worldwide,  with more than 5
million  people dying  of the  disease each  year.  This  number is  expected to
increase  by more than 30% in the next ten  years, due to an increase in tobacco
use  worldwide.  Although the disease symptoms are manageable through the use of
drug and oxygen therapy, there is currently no cure for COPD.

About Galapagos
Galapagos   <http://www.glpg.com/>  (Euronext:  GLPG;  OTC:  GLPYY)  is  a  drug
discovery and development company with small molecule programs in bone and joint
diseases, bone metastasis, cachexia, anti-infectives and metabolic diseases.  It
has   established   risk   sharing   alliances   with  GlaxoSmithKline,  Janssen
Pharmaceutica,  Eli Lilly and  Merck & Co.   Through an alliance with MorphoSys,
Galapagos is also developing new antibody therapies in bone and joint diseases.
Its  division BioFocus offers a full  suite of target-to-drug discovery products
and services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies and to patient foundations,
encompassing  target  discovery  and  validation,  screening  and drug discovery
through  to delivery of  pre-clinical candidates.  Galapagos  has more than 500
employees  and operates facilities in six countries, with global headquarters in
Mechelen, Belgium.  For more information: www.glpg.com <http://www.glpg.com/>

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 a pioneer in
diabetes  management. Roche's personalised healthcare strategy aims at providing
medicines  and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health,
quality  of  life  and  survival  of  patients.  In 2008, Roche had over 80,000
employees  worldwide and  invested almost  9 billion Swiss  francs in  R&D.  The
company  posted sales of 45.6 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is
a  wholly owned member of the Roche Group.  Roche has a majority stake in Chugai
Pharmaceutical     of     Japan.    For    more    information:    www.roche.com
<http://www.roche.com/>


CONTACT

Galapagos NV
Elizabeth Goodwin, Director Investor Relations
Tel: +31 6 2291 6240
ir@glpg.com 


This   release   may  contain  forward-looking  statements,  including,  without
limitation,   statements   containing   the   words  "believes,"  "anticipates,"
"expects,"  "intends,"  "plans,"  "seeks,"  "estimates," "may," "will," "could,"
"stands   to,"   and   "continues,"   as   well  as  similar  expressions.  Such
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