AFFX Affymetrix, Inc.

Affymetrix Announces Expanded Genomic Technologies Licensing Program Foundational Patents Made Available to Encourage Broad Commercialization Of Bead and Other Genomic Technologies SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Affymetrix, Inc., announced today an expanded licensing program that makes some of its most recently issued patents, as well as early patents that established Affymetrix as the pioneer in microarrays, available for licensing and, in selected areas, for sale to those using and commercializing microarray-centered technologies. The patents include intellectual property in areas such as DNA and protein arrays, scanner/detector technology, and microfluidics, as well as a broadened portfolio of patents related to the use of beads to measure nucleic acids or peptide binding for genomic analysis. "We are delighted to make certain of our issued patents in all of these technologies available for licensing," said Alan Sherr, Director of Licensing for Affymetrix. "The first in this series of licensing initiatives includes a wide range of claims directed specifically to beads, methods of their use and detectors for reading their signals. Our vision is to make our intellectual property estate accessible on reasonable terms to stimulate the broad commercialization of genome analysis technologies so that science and society can reap the benefits." The Affymetrix licensing portfolio includes patents in the following general areas: -- Arrays of biological polymers on various substrates at various densities; -- Use of bar codes with biological polymer arrays or array packages; -- Scanning technology and associated instrumentation and software; -- Microfluidics related to experimentation using microarrays; -- Assays and reagents; and, -- Bead-related products and methods including: -- Coded beads to which polymer probes are attached; -- Methods for identifying target molecules by reading a binding reagent coding system attached to beads; -- Methods for distinguishing between biological materials using nucleic acid probes attached to beads; and, -- Laser scanners or other devices for detection of fluorescently labeled nucleic acid targetsbound to nucleic acids attached to beads. Other related Affymetrix patents may be of interest, and are available for licensing, to organizations commercializing and using bead technology, designing microarrays, manufacturing or using microarrays, detecting and analyzing signals from microarrays, employing bioinformatics and software to analyze microarrays, and other array-related areas. Organizations commercializing these technologies, or those desiring to, are invited to contact the Affymetrix Licensing Office at 408-731-5967 or for more details. 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(R) 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 (including uncertainties relating to the Company's ability to achieve additional licensing revenue from the expanded genomic technologies licensing initiative discussed in this press release), higher gross margins, reduced operating expenses, uncertainties relating to technological approaches, manufacturing, product development, market acceptance, 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 Reportson 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 investors, Doug Farrell, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-408-731-5285, both for Affymetrix, Inc. Web site: http://www.affymetrix.com/

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