AFFX Affymetrix, Inc.

CapitalBio Corporation and Affymetrix Announce Strategic Relationship Initial Projects Include Advanced Personal Scanner Development and GeneChip(R) Services SANTA CLARA, Calif. and BEIJING, April 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX) and CapitalBio Corporation, a leading life science company based in Beijing, P.R. China, announced today that the two companies have entered into a strategic relationship. The non-exclusive agreement initially includes joint development of a proprietary, advanced GeneChip(R)-compatible personal scanner and a service provider program, through which CapitalBio will offer the full line of Affymetrix GeneChip products. The companies intend to jointly pursue a number of complementary products for research and molecular diagnostics for worldwide markets, which may include additional instrumentation, reagents and services. Other collaborations under discussion include manufacturing certain products in China to take advantage of CapitalBio's engineering and manufacturing capabilities. "CapitalBio is an internationally recognized innovative developer of life sciences technologies and products with a first-rate R&D staff," said Susan Siegel, President of Affymetrix. "We believe that our partnership will accelerate the growth and standardization of molecular technologies to understand and improve life worldwide." "We are very enthusiastic about entering a partnership with Affymetrix, a global market leader in DNA chips," commented Dr. Jing Cheng, CEO and CTO of CapitalBio. "We see many synergies between our two companies. Affymetrix is the pioneer in providing GeneChip products and solutions. CapitalBio is a fast growing company that aims at providing total solutions including DNA, protein, cell and tissue arrays, cell separation and sample processing, as well as instrumentation. By coupling CapitalBio's extensive engineering expertise and efficient product development processes with Affymetrix' profound GeneChip technology base and market knowledge, customers can expect more timely delivery of cost-effective products for research, clinical diagnostics, and many other applications to improve world health." "We have entered into a long-term relationship that is flexible enough to allow the exploration and incorporation of additional mutually beneficial opportunities, and yet strong enough to attain concrete near-term product development and commercialization milestones for the benefits of both companies," added Dr. Thane Kreiner, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Affymetrix. "We are excited about the potential for this partnership to accelerate science, innovation and economic development in the People's Republic of China and globally." "This is the beginning of a long-term partnership that can expand in several dimensions," commented David Sun, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Marketing at CapitalBio. "There are multiple opportunities for CapitalBio and Affymetrix to pursue collaboratively in China and beyond. Joint R&D programs with shared intellectual properties, such as the advanced personal scanner program, co-marketing and OEM are all possibilities. This relationship will benefit both companies with far-reaching significance." In addition to joint R&D and commercialization programs, Affymetrix and CapitalBio intend to collaborate on promoting and advancing standards on microarray technologies, products and industrial processes. About CapitalBio CapitalBio is a leading life science Company that develops and commercializes a broad range of products, including Biochip technology products, for drug discovery research, genomics, proteomics, bio-safety testing and clinical applications. Headquartered in Beijing, China, CapitalBio has rapidly evolved from a young innovative biochip developer into a comprehensive life science entity with three affiliates or subsidiaries: AVIVA Biosciences, a San Diego, California based company that develops and markets on-chip patch-clamp technologies for ion-channel studies for drug discovery researches; Chipscreen Biosciences, a Biotech company located in Shenzhen, China, for small molecular drug discovery and development; and Wangdong Medical Equipment, one of the largest medical equipment companies in China that occupies about 70% of China's conventional X-Ray imaging market. Additional information on CapitalBio can be found at http://www.capitalbio.com/. About Affymetrix Affymetrix scientists invented the world's first microarray in 1989 and began selling the first commercial microarray in 1996. 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 1,200 systems have been shipped 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 diagnostic arrays and outcome of licensing agreements 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, 2004 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. CapitalBio, and the CapitalBio logo, and Capital Biochip are registered trademarks owned or used by CapitalBio Corporation. AVIVA, Chipscreen, Wangdong are registered trademarks owned or used by AVIVA Biosciences, Chipscreen Biosciences, and Wangdong Medical Equipment Company respectively. DATASOURCE: Affymetrix, Inc. CONTACT: media, Wes Conard, Director, Corporate Communications, +1-408-731-5791, or investors, Doug Farrell, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-408-731-5285, both of Affymetrix, Inc.; or David Sun, Senior Vice President, Business, Development and Marketing, of CapitalBio Corporation, (86 10) 8072 6868, ext. 8311, or (01) 805 300 5155 Web site: http://www.capitalbio.com/ Web site: http://www.affymetrix.com/

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