AFFX Affymetrix, Inc.

Affymetrix Provides Aventis Pharmaceuticals Early Access to High-Throughput GeneChip(R) Platform SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Affymetrix, Inc., today announced that Aventis Pharmaceuticals has entered into an agreement that provides Aventis early access to the new GeneChip(R) HighThroughputArray (HTA) that uses a standard 96-well microtiter plate footprint to simultaneously process and analyze 96 GeneChip Human Genome U133A Arrays. "The GeneChip HTA system industrializes the workflow of processing microarray-based experiments, creating a new price/performance point in the industry," said Steve Lombardi, Vice President of Corporate Development at Affymetrix. "HTA will enable pharmaceutical companies to implement and apply GeneChip technology in high-throughput drug development applications through its reliability and lowered cost per experiment." The GeneChip HTA system has the capacity to process hundreds of biological samples per day with minimal human supervision, reducing capital, labor, reagent, and array expenses. The GeneChip HTA system adapts the same industry- standard GeneChip brand technology and content that Affymetrix uses in its cartridges to a standard 96-array format, which runs on an automated system built with off-the-shelf robotic components. The GeneChip HTA system automates the most labor intensive steps in GeneChip processing, dramatically reducing the cost per assay. The decrease in cost and increase in throughput enables industrialized genomics-based research and makes the GeneChip HTA system well suited for downstream development applications like compound profiling, toxicology and clinical trials. The components of the GeneChip HTA system include the HTA 96-array plate, a new scanner for analyzing the HTA plates, the automated assay adapted from Affymetrix' standard gene expression assay, specifications for the automation components, and a software system for tracking samples and data. Further development on the system will enable high-throughput studies employing other products and applications, including genotyping, resequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation. 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 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 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 GeneChip HighThroughputArray format), 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 relatingto 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, 2002 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: Media Contact: Wes Conard, Associate Director, Public Relations, +1-408-731-5791, or Investor Contact: Doug Farrell, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-408-731-5285, both of Affymetrix, Inc. Web site: http://www.affymetrix.com/

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