AFFX Affymetrix, Inc.

Affymetrix Inc. (Nasdaq: AFFX) and Iconix Biosciences today announced the launch of the ToxFX� Analysis Suite, a toxicogenomics solution that improves researchers� understanding of safety issues associated with new drug candidates, compounds or environmental toxicants. ToxFX, which combines Iconix� revolutionary automated analysis with Affymetrix� GeneChip� arrays, helps scientists prioritize drug candidates and make preclinical development decisions faster than ever before. Obtaining a full compound safety profile using classical toxicology methods requires a series of individual assays that take weeks or months to perform. The entire ToxFX analysis process can be completed in as little as three days following sample collection, and the report itself is generated and transmitted to the investigator�s desktop within minutes after the experiment is finished. �We have consistently heard from the toxicology community that analysis of the data is the single largest barrier to applying toxicogenomics as a standard screening tool in drug development programs,� said Don Halbert, Ph.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Iconix Biosciences. �The ToxFX Analysis Suite offers the distilled toxicogenomic experience of our specialized Iconix scientists and the context of our comprehensive DrugMatrix reference data set in an easy-to-use and affordable product. This will help scientists prioritize drug candidates and make preclinical development decisions quickly and with more relevant information than ever before.� To watch a full Affymetrix UserForum interview about the ToxFX Analysis Suite with Iconix� Kurt Jarnagin, Ph.D., and Affymetrix� Iain Russell, Ph.D., please visit: http://www.affymetrix.com/userForum/news/collaborations/ToxFX.uf The new ToxFX Analysis Suite was developed to accelerate the process of obtaining a full compound safety profile by detecting a drug�s toxicity at the molecular level. ToxFX brings a toxicogenomic approach to every drug discovery effort, even if researchers do not have access to specialized bioinformatics capabilities. The ToxFX Analysis Suite generates a safety profile that can diagnose or predict more than 50 toxicological outcomes. It also examines the gene expression changes in 22 of the most relevant biological pathways, offering an early understanding of the potential underlying mechanisms of toxicity. �Affymetrix has been working with Iconix Biosciences for the past year to co-develop the ToxFX Analysis Suite, which will revolutionize the drug development process,� said Chip Leveille, vice president of the Pharmaceutical Business Unit at Affymetrix. �The ToxFX Analysis Suite combines Affymetrix� gold standard microarray technology with Iconix� expert toxicology database and analytical reports. This is an easy-to-use tool that will help accelerate research and improve the quality of drug candidates.� The ToxFX Analysis Suite is a direct result of the collaborative agreement that Affymetrix and Iconix signed in February 2006. Together, Affymetrix� GeneChip expression arrays and Iconix� automated analysis provide detailed information on a drug candidate�s toxicological liabilities and pharmacological properties. Researchers perform the molecular analysis by generating gene expression data from rat samples on either the GeneChip Rat ToxFX 1.0 Array or the Rat Genome 230 2.0 Array. The data are then compared to the Iconix Drug Signatures� and pathway response libraries and cross-referenced to identify matches to known toxicological responses. A toxicity profile report is then generated for the compound based on this information. To view the product datasheet, please visit: http://www.affymetrix.com/support/technical/datasheets/toxfx_datasheet .pdf (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.) The ToxFX Analysis Suite (ToxFX 1.0 GeneChip microarrays with Analysis Certificates) is available from Affymetrix. Additionally, an individual Analysis Certificate, which enables data from a single array to be compared with the reference database, may be purchased directly from Iconix. Analyzing a ToxFX study does not require any prior subscriptions or licensing of either the ToxFX Study Builder software or the DrugMatrix reference database. The Analysis Certificate provides researchers with the flexibility and convenience to decide when and how to perform their toxicology studies. For more information on the ToxFX Analysis Suite, please visit: www.toxfx.com Today, Affymetrix and Iconix are launching the ToxFX Analysis Suite at the American College of Toxicology (ACT) annual meeting in Indian Wells, Calif. The companies are inviting meeting attendees to learn more about the new product at the presentation, �Rapid Solutions for Toxicogenomics.� The lunch program will take place at noon PST as part of the ACT meeting. For more information, please visit: http://www.microarraybulletin.com/act2006 About Iconix Iconix Biosciences Inc., the leader in toxicogenomics products and services, has pioneered the integration of chemistry and genomics to enable the pharmaceutical and other industries to develop safer drug candidates and compounds. The company�s technologies increase the odds of advancing the right candidates to the clinic, reduce attrition rates in late-stage trials and help keep the costs of drug discovery in check. Iconix provides reference systems and universally recognized expertise to predict safety liabilities, side effects and mechanisms of toxicity for drug candidates and environmental chemicals. Iconix� DrugMatrix system has been installed at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use by CDER (Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) scientists and reviewers in a range of toxicogenomics applications and is used by the FDA to evaluate voluntarily genomic data submissions. The company has major research collaborations and technology alliances with Bristol Myers Squibb, Abbott Laboratories and Eli Lilly and has strategic partnerships with leading life sciences companies including Affymetrix and GE Healthcare. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Iconix was founded in 1998 and is privately held. For more information, visit www.iconixbiosciences.com 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� 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 1,400 systems have been installed around the world and more than 7,000 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 analyzing 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 1,100 employees worldwide. For more information about Affymetrix, please visit the company�s website at 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 and uncertainties associated with the commercial success of the ToxFX Analysis Suite discussed in this press release; risks of the company�s ability to achieve and sustain higher levels of revenue, higher gross margins and reduced operating expenses; uncertainties relating to technological approaches, manufacturing and product development; 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/A for the year ended December 31, 2005, 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. Affymetrix Inc. (Nasdaq: AFFX) and Iconix Biosciences today announced the launch of the ToxFX(TM) Analysis Suite, a toxicogenomics solution that improves researchers' understanding of safety issues associated with new drug candidates, compounds or environmental toxicants. ToxFX, which combines Iconix' revolutionary automated analysis with Affymetrix' GeneChip(R) arrays, helps scientists prioritize drug candidates and make preclinical development decisions faster than ever before. Obtaining a full compound safety profile using classical toxicology methods requires a series of individual assays that take weeks or months to perform. The entire ToxFX analysis process can be completed in as little as three days following sample collection, and the report itself is generated and transmitted to the investigator's desktop within minutes after the experiment is finished. "We have consistently heard from the toxicology community that analysis of the data is the single largest barrier to applying toxicogenomics as a standard screening tool in drug development programs," said Don Halbert, Ph.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Iconix Biosciences. "The ToxFX Analysis Suite offers the distilled toxicogenomic experience of our specialized Iconix scientists and the context of our comprehensive DrugMatrix reference data set in an easy-to-use and affordable product. This will help scientists prioritize drug candidates and make preclinical development decisions quickly and with more relevant information than ever before." To watch a full Affymetrix UserForum interview about the ToxFX Analysis Suite with Iconix' Kurt Jarnagin, Ph.D., and Affymetrix' Iain Russell, Ph.D., please visit: http://www.affymetrix.com/userForum/news/collaborations/ToxFX.uf The new ToxFX Analysis Suite was developed to accelerate the process of obtaining a full compound safety profile by detecting a drug's toxicity at the molecular level. ToxFX brings a toxicogenomic approach to every drug discovery effort, even if researchers do not have access to specialized bioinformatics capabilities. The ToxFX Analysis Suite generates a safety profile that can diagnose or predict more than 50 toxicological outcomes. It also examines the gene expression changes in 22 of the most relevant biological pathways, offering an early understanding of the potential underlying mechanisms of toxicity. "Affymetrix has been working with Iconix Biosciences for the past year to co-develop the ToxFX Analysis Suite, which will revolutionize the drug development process," said Chip Leveille, vice president of the Pharmaceutical Business Unit at Affymetrix. "The ToxFX Analysis Suite combines Affymetrix' gold standard microarray technology with Iconix' expert toxicology database and analytical reports. This is an easy-to-use tool that will help accelerate research and improve the quality of drug candidates." The ToxFX Analysis Suite is a direct result of the collaborative agreement that Affymetrix and Iconix signed in February 2006. Together, Affymetrix' GeneChip expression arrays and Iconix' automated analysis provide detailed information on a drug candidate's toxicological liabilities and pharmacological properties. Researchers perform the molecular analysis by generating gene expression data from rat samples on either the GeneChip Rat ToxFX 1.0 Array or the Rat Genome 230 2.0 Array. The data are then compared to the Iconix Drug Signatures(R) and pathway response libraries and cross-referenced to identify matches to known toxicological responses. A toxicity profile report is then generated for the compound based on this information. To view the product datasheet, please visit: http://www.affymetrix.com/support/technical/datasheets/toxfx_datasheet .pdf (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.) The ToxFX Analysis Suite (ToxFX 1.0 GeneChip microarrays with Analysis Certificates) is available from Affymetrix. Additionally, an individual Analysis Certificate, which enables data from a single array to be compared with the reference database, may be purchased directly from Iconix. Analyzing a ToxFX study does not require any prior subscriptions or licensing of either the ToxFX Study Builder software or the DrugMatrix reference database. The Analysis Certificate provides researchers with the flexibility and convenience to decide when and how to perform their toxicology studies. For more information on the ToxFX Analysis Suite, please visit: www.toxfx.com Today, Affymetrix and Iconix are launching the ToxFX Analysis Suite at the American College of Toxicology (ACT) annual meeting in Indian Wells, Calif. The companies are inviting meeting attendees to learn more about the new product at the presentation, "Rapid Solutions for Toxicogenomics." The lunch program will take place at noon PST as part of the ACT meeting. For more information, please visit: http://www.microarraybulletin.com/act2006 About Iconix Iconix Biosciences Inc., the leader in toxicogenomics products and services, has pioneered the integration of chemistry and genomics to enable the pharmaceutical and other industries to develop safer drug candidates and compounds. The company's technologies increase the odds of advancing the right candidates to the clinic, reduce attrition rates in late-stage trials and help keep the costs of drug discovery in check. Iconix provides reference systems and universally recognized expertise to predict safety liabilities, side effects and mechanisms of toxicity for drug candidates and environmental chemicals. Iconix' DrugMatrix system has been installed at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use by CDER (Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) scientists and reviewers in a range of toxicogenomics applications and is used by the FDA to evaluate voluntarily genomic data submissions. The company has major research collaborations and technology alliances with Bristol Myers Squibb, Abbott Laboratories and Eli Lilly and has strategic partnerships with leading life sciences companies including Affymetrix and GE Healthcare. Headquartered in Mountain View, California, Iconix was founded in 1998 and is privately held. For more information, visit www.iconixbiosciences.com 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 1,400 systems have been installed around the world and more than 7,000 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 analyzing 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 1,100 employees worldwide. For more information about Affymetrix, please visit the company's website at 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 and uncertainties associated with the commercial success of the ToxFX Analysis Suite discussed in this press release; risks of the company's ability to achieve and sustain higher levels of revenue, higher gross margins and reduced operating expenses; uncertainties relating to technological approaches, manufacturing and product development; 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/A for the year ended December 31, 2005, 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.