Helicos BioSciences (NASDAQ:HLCS) and it’s collaborators will deliver presentations featured at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) meeting in Marco Island, Florida, from February 24-27, 2010. The presentations demonstrate the unique attributes of single molecule sequencing available for customers using the Helicos® Genetic Analysis System, and highlight the suitability of the technology for answering difficult and previously intractable questions in biology and medicine.

Dr. Timothy Triche, MD, PhD, University of Southern California on behalf of the Children’s Oncology Group will discuss recent collaborative studies undertaken with Helicos in a talk entitled “Unraveling the Complexity of Primary and Metastatic Ewing’s Sarcoma Using Helicos Single Molecule Sequencing”. Using a Helicos® Genetic Analysis System, the group performed a comprehensive and quantitative survey of a cancer patient's genome and transcriptome to identify changes responsible for tumor metastasis and drug resistance.

In a talk entitled “A True Unbiased View of Genome Biology: Helicos Single Molecule Sequencing” Patrice Milos, PhD, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, of Helicos will present the technology’s unique ability to perform Direct RNA Sequencing and Direct Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (ChIP-Seq), providing unbiased quantitation and sequence information. The unparalleled quantitative accuracy of Helicos' direct measurement will be demonstrated relative to 2nd Generation, amplification-based technologies.

In addition, John Thompson, PhD, Helicos’s Senior Director of Genomic Sciences, will give a poster presentation entitled “Single Molecule Sequencing of DNA Invisible to Other Technologies” describing Helicos' unique ability to sequence DNA from samples other technologies can't. These include samples that are highly degraded, contaminated or of very ancient origin.

The Helicos® Genetic Analysis System is the world's first and only commercially available technology capable of True Single Molecule Sequencing (tSMS)TM. Unlike amplification-based technologies, the Helicos approach is free from the biases and artifacts associated with amplification, and provides a direct view of biological samples, enabling applications that can revolutionize biology, diagnostics and medicine.

About Helicos BioSciences:

Helicos BioSciences is a life science company focused on innovative genetic analysis technologies for the research, drug discovery, and diagnostic markets. Helicos' proprietary True Single Molecule Sequencing, tSMS(TM), technology allows direct measurement of billions of strands of DNA enabling scientists to perform experiments and ask questions never before possible. Helicos is a recipient of two $1,000 genome grants and committed to providing scientists the tools to unlock the era of genomic medicine. The company's corporate headquarters are located at One Kendall Square, Building 700, Cambridge, MA 02139, and its telephone number is (617) 264-1800. For more information, please visit www.helicosbio.com.

Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, the prospective value of the unique attributes of single molecule sequencing as discussed in this press release and the presentations at the AGBT meeting, and management's plans, objectives and strategies. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Helicos' control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other things, our ability to successfully complete and/or scale the manufacturing and commercialization process for the Helicos® Genetic Analysis System; our history of operating losses and ability to achieve profitability; our ability to sustain and scale our manufacturing capabilities; the research and development spending levels of academic, clinical and governmental research institutions and pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agriculture companies who may purchase our Helicos® Genetic Analysis System; our reliance on third-party suppliers; competition; changing technology and customer requirements; our ability to operate in an emerging market; market acceptance of our technology; the length of our sales and implementation cycles; our dependence on large contracts for the sale and implementation of our Helicos® Genetic Analysis System; failure of our technology and products; our ability to maintain customer relationships and contracts; ethical, legal and social concerns surrounding the use of genetic information; our ability to retain our personnel and hire additional skilled personnel; our ability to manage our growth while operating with limited resources; our ability to control our operating expenses; general economic and business conditions; our ability to obtain capital when desired on favorable terms; and the volatility of the market price of our common stock. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Helicos undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by Helicos, see the disclosure contained in Helicos' public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.