AFFX Affymetrix, Inc.

Affymetrix Recognized with Outstanding Corporate Innovator Award by Product Development & Management Association SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Affymetrix, Inc., (NASDAQ:AFFX) today announced that it has been named an Outstanding Corporate Innovator for 2004 by the Product Development & Management Association (PDMA). The PDMA annually honors organizations that demonstrate sustained excellence in the development and profitable commercialization of new products and services. Affymetrix will receive the award at the PDMA's 28th Annual International Conference in Chicago on October 26. The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson Air Force Base will also be honored for their product development achievements by the PDMA at this year's conference. Affymetrix was selected on the basis of its success in pioneering and commercializing GeneChip(R) microarrays. By using photolithography and solid- phase chemistry Affymetrix can produce arrays containing hundreds of thousands of DNA probes packed at extremely high densities. GeneChip microarrays have played a key role in helping drive the global genomic revolution, according to Stan Jankowski, Chair of the OCI Award Selection Committee and President of N.O.V.A Consulting Co. LLC. "By combining its revolutionary GeneChip microarray technology with a disciplined corporate-wide approach to new product development, Affymetrix' products have helped increase scientists' understanding of the relationship between genes and human health," said Jankowski. Affymetrix has a strong culture of innovation fostered by Stephen P.A. Fodor, Ph.D., the company's founder and Chairman and CEO of Affymetrix. In 2002 Affymetrix developed the Advanced Product Life-Cycle (APL) program, an integrated process for prioritizing, planning and executing the development and on-time delivery of competitive, customer-driven products. The process is based on management consulting firm PRTM's Product And Cycle-time Excellence(R) (PACE(R)) product development framework, and was tailored to meet Affymetrix' unique needs. The successful implementation of APL and the use of product development teams have been key factors in its successful launch of breakthrough products during the last two years. "Affymetrix prides itself on its culture of innovation and product development excellence and is honored to be recognized by the OCI Award selection committee," said Grace Colon, Ph.D., Vice President, Corporate Planning. "Affymetrix invented, developed and commercialized the microarray in the early 1990s. Since then continuous, disciplined innovation has enabled our company to increase the data on each array over 100-fold, to deliver breakthrough products to the market and to help researchers perform pioneering science that simply wasn't possible before." Selected from a global field of over 20 candidates nominated by PDMA members, this year's winners demonstrate exceptional skill in continuously creating and capturing value through new product development. Thirty-one firms have been recognized as Outstanding Corporate Innovators since the inception of the award. Past recipients include Apple Computer, BMW Group, Eastman Kodak, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Herman Miller, Hewlett- Packard, Hunter Douglas, Nabisco, Pepsi-Cola, and Rockwell Collins. To learn more about the PDMA 28th Annual International Conference on Tuesday, October 26 in Chicago, visit http://www.pdma.org/ 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, 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 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: Wes Conard, Assoc. Director, Public Relations, +1-408-731-5791 or +1-415-385-4455, or Investor: Doug Farrell, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-408-731-5285, both of Affymetrix, Inc. Web site: http://www.affymetrix.com/

Copyright