ParAllele Press Release

AFFYMETRIX TO SUPPLY PARALLELE BIOSCIENCE WITH GENECHIP® TAG ARRAYS

Under the terms of the three-year, non-exclusive agreement, Affymetrix will supply catalog and custom-designed tag arrays to ParAllele for use in its commercial genotyping service business, and with its pharmaceutical collaborators. The companies also entered into a research and development agreement in which ParAllele will use Affymetrix' GeneChip(R) Brand Tag Arrays to develop a range of SNP assays that ParAllele will make available to its customers. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Affymetrix GeneChip(R) Tag Arrays are universal detection devices that can be utilized with a number of different assays. Each array contains sets of unique "tag" sequences that hybridize to complementary sequences generated in the assay. ParAllele's Molecular Inversion Probe (MIP) assay technology allows up to 10,000 genotyping reactions to be combined in a single tube. Together, these technologies provide a scalable and flexible genotyping solution for a wide variety of DNA analysis applications, including fine mapping and custom SNP genotyping.

"Affymetrix has introduced innovative new products for DNA analysis -- the GeneChip Human Mapping 10K Array for whole genome mapping and the GeneChip CustomSeq(TM) Array Program for resequencing," said Greg Yap, Affymetrix' Senior Marketing Director, DNA Analysis. "In addition, we look forward to supplying our Tag Arrays to ParAllele to enable them to provide services to customers such as refining linkage regions or undertaking candidate gene studies."

"ParAllele is now positioned to deliver a wide range of SNP discovery and genotyping solutions," said Tom Willis, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of ParAllele. "This agreement ensures us access to a high-quality, high-content microarray platform and allows ParAllele to focus on its reagents and collaborations-based business model. We have been using Affymetrix GeneChip Tag Arrays in our collaboration with Baylor University on the NIH-funded International HapMap Project and we are very pleased with the results."

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 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.

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