AFFX Affymetrix, Inc.

ParAllele and Affymetrix Partner to Offer New Custom and Standard Genotyping Products Affymetrix to Distribute ParAllele Products Under Expanded Relationship SANTA CLARA, Calif. and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Affymetrix, Inc. , and ParAllele BioScience today announced that they have signed a non-exclusive distribution and marketing agreement. The two companies are now offering early technology access to ParAllele's MegAllele(TM) genotyping reagents for use with Affymetrix GeneChip(R) arrays, enabling researchers to perform large-scale genotyping in their own labs with their own panels of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These SNP genotyping products, which will be formally launched in July, are ideal for custom genotyping projects. Researchers studying candidate genes or other regions of the genome have typically genotyped relatively few SNPs per experiment due to cost and ease-of-use hurdles. Assay design is customized and comprehensive, enabling researchers to successfully genotype more of the SNPs they want. These new products offer the ability to genotype up to tens of thousands of SNPs in a single, flexible assay. MegAllele(TM) products include genotyping reagent kits and software specifically designed for use with Affymetrix GeneChip(R) Tag Arrays and instrumentation systems. The initial offering includes custom panels of 3,000 to 5,000 SNPs and standard panels of up to 10,000 pre-selected SNPs. Over time, the product portfolio will grow to include additional custom and standard products. Under the terms of the non-exclusive agreement, which follows a year-long research and development collaboration, ParAllele will design assays and manufacture reagent kits and genotyping software. Affymetrix will market the integrated reagent kits and software together with its arrays and instrumentation. "We are enthusiastic to partner with ParAllele to bring their innovative new genotyping assay to the broad marketplace," said Greg Yap, Sr. Marketing Director, DNA Analysis for Affymetrix. "The combination of these MegAllele(TM) brand reagents with our industry-standard GeneChip brand microarrays will give customers real solutions for candidate gene analysis and custom genotyping, adding to our growing portfolio of DNA analysis products that range from whole-genome analysis to resequencing." "We are delighted to be working with Affymetrix to bring our technology to customers around the world, leveraging their well established commercial organization and trusted microarray platform," said Nick Naclerio, President & CEO of ParAllele BioScience. "This partnership represents an important step in the execution of our strategy to deliver 'out-of-the-box' ParAllele products to the genetics research community and complements our full service collaborations business." MegAllele(TM) genotyping reagent kits are based on ParAllele's Molecular Inversion Probe (MIP) technology that allows tens of thousands of genotyping reactions to be combined in a single tube with unmatched accuracy and specificity. The results of the assay can be decoded using universal tags designed by ParAllele. This approach has been successfully proven in the International Human Haplotype Mapping (HapMap) Project and through ParAllele's pharmaceutical and academic collaborations. Affymetrix' GeneChip Tag Arrays contain sets of "tag" sequences that hybridize to complementary sequences generated in the assay, allowing high-density multiplexing with a simple readout. Together, these technologies are expected to provide a scalable and flexible genotyping solution for a wide variety of DNA analysis applications, including fine mapping and custom SNP genotyping. About ParAllele BioScience ParAllele BioScience is accelerating healthcare breakthroughs by providing comprehensive genetic discovery solutions to the life science research, pharmaceutical and diagnostic sectors. The company's products and services utilize a unique approach that leverages novel biochemical processes rather than complex instrumentation to discover and analyze minute variations in the human genome. The understanding of how subtle genetic variations contribute to disease risk, prognosis and drug response will lead to new and more effective drugs, predictive diagnosis, and the ability to better tailor therapies to individual patients. To date, ParAllele has established research collaborations with multiple large pharmaceutical companies and prestigious academic and government institutions. Headquartered in South San Francisco, California, ParAllele BioScience was founded by a team of leading researchers from the Stanford Genome Technology Center and Uppsala University. The company's investors include Abingworth Management, Index Ventures, Mohr Davidow Ventures and Versant Ventures. For more information about ParAllele, please visit the company's website at: http://www.parallelebio.com/. About Affymetrix: Affymetrix is a pioneer in creating breakthrough tools that are driving the genomic revolution. By applying the principles of semiconductor technology to the life sciences, Affymetrix develops and commercializes systems that enable scientists to improve the quality of life. The Company's customers include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agrichemical, diagnostics and consumer products companies as well as academic, government and other non-profit research institutes. Affymetrix offers an expanding portfolio of integrated products and services, including its integrated GeneChip brand platform, to address growing markets focused on understanding the relationship between genes and human health. Additional information on Affymetrix can be found at http://www.affymetrix.com/. All statements in this press release that are not historical are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act as amended, including statements regarding Affymetrix' "expectations," "beliefs," "hopes," "intentions," "strategies" or the like. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially for Affymetrix from those projected, including, but not limited to risks of the Company's ability to achieve and sustain higher levels of revenue, higher gross margins, reduced operating expenses, uncertainties relating to technological approaches, manufacturing, product development, market acceptance (including uncertainties relating to product development and market acceptance of the Affymetrix and ParAllele collaboration), personnel retention, uncertainties related to cost and pricing of Affymetrix products, dependence on collaborative partners, uncertainties relating to sole source suppliers, uncertainties relating to FDA and other regulatory approvals, competition, risks relating to intellectual property of others and the uncertainties of patent protection and litigation. These and other risk factors are discussed in Affymetrix' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and other SEC reports, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for subsequent quarterly periods. Affymetrix expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Affymetrix' expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements are based. NOTE: Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo, and GeneChip are registered trademarks owned or used by Affymetrix, Inc. DATASOURCE: ParAllele BioScience CONTACT: Nick Naclerio, PhD, President & CEO of ParAllele BioSciences, +1-650-583-5833, or ; or Karen Bergman or Michelle Corral, both of BCC Partners, +1-650-575-1509 or +1-415-794-8662, for ParAllele BioScience; or media, Wes Conard, Associate Director, Public Relations, +1-408-731-5791, or investors, Doug Farrell, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-408-731-5285, both of Affymetrix, Inc. Web site: http://www.paralellebio.com/

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