AFFX Affymetrix, Inc.

Harvard Medical School - Partners HealthCare Center for Genetics and Genomics to Launch Major Genotyping Study in Atherosclerosis with Affymetrix Technology CAMBRIDGE, Mass., and SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, the Harvard Medical School - Partners HealthCare Center for Genetics and Genomics (HPCGG) and Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX) announced an agreement that will provide HPCGG with early access to next-generation Affymetrix GeneChip(R) Human Mapping microarrays capable of scanning up to 500,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or variations of DNA sequence in the human genome. The Affymetrix technology will allow HPCGG researchers to investigate at an unprecedented scale the genetic origins of atherosclerosis, a condition where the arteries become clogged. More than 1,200 patient samples will be examined and will come from the Women's Health Study, an ongoing 10-year National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded study of cardiovascular events in 38,000 women. "Using the Affymetrix microarrays, we can scan a whole genome for genetic variation in just 24 to 48 hours. Prior to this technology, it would have been inconceivable to genotype hundreds of patient samples. Together with a large panel of serum markers from the Women's Health Study, this will bring us a lot closer to understanding the genetic contribution to inflammation and cardiovascular disease, and predicting who may or may not be at risk. Use of the microarrays in the HPCGG core technology facilities will make this and other large scale gene-disease association studies possible," said David Kwiatkowski, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Genotyping for HPCGG. Dr. Kwiatkowski is also a principal investigator within the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Cardiovascular Research at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH). The Reynolds Foundation is funding this study. Co-investigators in this project include Paul Ridker, M.D., Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at BWH. The Women's Health Study is under the overall direction of Dr. Julie Buring, also of BWH. Affymetrix arrays enable scientists to search the human genome and identify genes contributing to complex diseases, such as atherosclerosis, cancer and asthma. High-density GeneChip microarrays interrogate hundreds of thousands of SNP markers per individual for less than one cent per genotype. The substantial cost savings compared with currently available methods is making this atherosclerosis study, as well as other large-scale studies, cost-effective for the first time. "The Affymetrix microarray system will be a key component of the Harvard Medical School -- Partners HealthCare lab bench-to-bedside continuum, which integrates genetics and genomics data into clinical decision support. Discoveries of gene-disease associations can be rapidly translated into clinical diagnostic tests by our team of researchers and clinicians, bringing benefits to the patient in months rather than years," said Raju Kucherlapati, Ph.D., Scientific Director of the HPCGG. Dr. Kucherlapati added that such tests form the foundation of personalized medicine approaches that HPCGG is seeking to advance -- the ability to select the best treatment for the individual patient based on his or her genetic profile. The early access arrangement with Affymetrix exemplifies HPCGG's flexibility in adopting new technologies with the rigorous quality controls of a production facility. In addition to supporting HPCGG research, the new Affymetrix technology will further strengthen the HPCGG core facilities supporting the broader research community with genomic and other high throughput services. The Center is among a handful of early access sites that will start applying these new Affymetrix arrays to study real-world disease. "From world-class research, to access to a major physician network serving over 2 million patients, HPCGG has the resources needed to start translating genomic results into better health care. We believe that Affymetrix GeneChip technology, including our new upcoming Mapping 500K arrays, will help researchers at HPCGG and elsewhere to make discoveries that directly benefit patients," said Greg Yap, Vice President, DNA Products, Affymetrix. The research is expected to begin when the 500K arrays become available under a limited release Early Access program in the first half of 2005. About the Harvard/Partners Center for Genetics and Genomics HPCGG is a joint enterprise between Harvard Medical School and Partners HealthCare System, dedicated to accelerating the realization of personalized medicine by discovering and integrating genetic knowledge into the healthcare system. The Center combines world-class scientific talent with access to a population of over 2 million patients and their physicians, providing a continuum of resources and expertise to rapidly translate scientific discoveries into treatments that benefit the patient. Through its educational programs at Harvard Medical School and other academic institutions, the Center has created the infrastructure to educate the medical profession on personalized medicine approaches. The Center also operates full-service genetic clinics for patients with known or suspected genetic conditions, and core facilities and services for genetic study design, DNA sequencing, genotyping, proteomics, bioinformatics and microarrays. About Affymetrix Affymetrix scientists invented the world's first high-density microarray in 1989 and began selling the first commercial microarray in 1994. Since then, Affymetrix GeneChip(R) technology has become the industry standard in molecular biology research. Affymetrix technology is used by the world's top pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology companies as well as leading academic, government and not-for-profit research institutes. More than 1,000 systems have been installed around the world and nearly 3,000 peer-reviewed papers have been published using the technology. Affymetrix' patented photolithographic manufacturing process provides the most information capacity available today on an array, enabling researchers to use a whole-genome approach to analyze the relationship between genetics and health. Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., with manufacturing facilities in Sacramento, Calif., and Bedford, Mass. The company maintains important sales and marketing operations in Europe and Asia and has about 900 employees worldwide. 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 (including uncertainties relating to the use of the 500K array and outcome of the research project with HPCGG discussed in this press release), 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: Affymetrix, Inc. CONTACT: Wes Conard, Associate Director, Public Relations, +1-408-731-5791, or Doug Farrell, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-408-731-5285, both of Affymetrix, Inc.; or Heather Kowalski of Feinstein Kean Healthcare, +1-617-761-6796, or , for Harvard Medical School - Partners HealthCare Center for Genetics and Genomics Web site: http://www.affymetrix.com/

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