AFFX Affymetrix, Inc.

Affymetrix and Perlegen to Offer Research Community Access to Custom Genotyping Services Largest Portfolio of Over 1.5 Million Validated SNP Assays Immediately Available SANTA CLARA, Calif. and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX) and Perlegen Sciences, Inc. announced today that they have established a partnership to provide researchers with access to custom genotyping services via Perlegen's high-throughput genotyping facility. These services -- covering projects ranging from a few thousand to 50,000 SNPs, and up to thousands of samples -- are designed to conveniently meet the needs of researchers eager to identify genetic loci associated with inherited diseases. (For an interactive version of this press release with additional information, please go to http://www.affymetrix.com/pr and click on the release title) Under the agreement, Affymetrix will market the service and Perlegen will individually genotype customer samples, all on a simple, fee-for-service basis. Moreover, as a custom service, SNPs to be genotyped can be selected by customers from Perlegen's portfolio of over 1.5 million previously-validated SNP assays, as well as from public sources. Affymetrix' global sales infrastructure will provide before and after-sales support. "As Perlegen continues to make breakthroughs in large-scale genetics research, we have been repeatedly asked by members of the research community to make our capabilities accessible to investigators with small-to-medium- sized genotyping projects," said Jesse Hsu, Senior Director, Corporate Development of Perlegen Sciences. "We are delighted to partner with Affymetrix in offering these services to the research community in order to accelerate the search for, and reduce the overall costs of, identifying important genes and genetic loci." The scope of the new service is well-matched to meet the needs of customers with fine mapping projects. Typically, in such projects researchers have identified one or more candidate genomic regions of interest, for instance, through whole genome scans using GeneChip(R) Mapping 10K or 100K Arrays. They then are faced with the challenge of pinpointing the associated genes or genetic loci within these regions. An effective solution is to saturate, or fine map, these regions by genotyping validated SNPs at high densities (such as 1 SNP every 2kb to 5kb) to maximize the probability of discovering the involved genes. Perlegen's portfolio of validated SNP assays provides an average density in excess of 1 SNP every 2kb across the entire genome. The new custom genotyping service leverages the well-established Perlegen genotyping system that has already been used by Perlegen on behalf of its collaborators to perform over one billion genotypes in the first half of 2004. This Perlegen system is based on Affymetrix microarray technology and proprietary Perlegen methodologies and is not intended for export. "We see a substantial unmet need for custom genotyping and Perlegen's high-throughput genotyping capabilities will help us meet this demand," said Greg Yap, Senior Director, DNA Analysis at Affymetrix. "This new service offering is powered by Affymetrix GeneChip technology and complements our growing portfolio of DNA analysis products that range from whole-genome analysis to resequencing." 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 the 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 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, higher gross margins, reduced operating expenses, uncertainties relating to technological approaches, manufacturing, product development, market acceptance (including uncertainties relating to market acceptance of the custom genotyping services described 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. About Perlegen Sciences: Perlegen Sciences, Inc. is working to provide safe and effective medicines to the world. The company quickly and cost effectively analyzes more than one million genetic variations in clinical trial participants to explain and predict the efficacy and adverse effect profiles of prescription drugs. Perlegen also applies this expertise to discovering genetic variants associated with disease for potential new therapeutics and diagnostics. For years, scientists and drug manufacturers have been eager to comprehensively examine entire genomes; through Perlegen, their moment has come. Perlegen is able to bring drugs to the market whose clinical development would have been otherwise discontinued. Based in Mountain View, California, Perlegen was formed in late 2000 as a spin-off from Affymetrix, Inc. For more information about Perlegen and its technologies, visit Perlegen's web site at http://www.perlegen.com/. NOTE: Affymetrix, the Affymetrix logo, and GeneChip are registered trademarks owned or used by Affymetrix, Inc. Perlegen Sciences, Perlegen, and the Perlegen logo are trademarks of Perlegen Sciences, Inc. DATASOURCE: Affymetrix, Inc. CONTACT: Media, Wes Conard, Associate Director, Public Relations, +1-408-731-5791, or Investor, Doug Farrell, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-408-731-5285, both of Affymetrix Web site: http://www.affymetrix.com/

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