01/28/04 -- Affymetrix, Inc., (Nasdaq: AFFX) today announced that it is offering a new line of GeneChip® brand expression reagents including two new cDNA Synthesis Kits, which have been developed in collaboration with leading reagent provider Invitrogen Corporation (Nasdaq: IVGN). These reagents have been optimized for use with Affymetrix GeneChip technology, offering a complete, standardized sample preparation system that is easier to use and will help customers produce more robust and consistent array results.

"These reagents are part of our overall system evolution for expression analysis," said Alan Dance, Affymetrix' Senior Vice President of Marketing. "By optimizing reagents, instrumentation and software using a systems approach, we are able to offer the best microarray performance available and continue to raise the standard of accuracy and reproducibility in gene expression analysis."

Both of the new cDNA Synthesis Kits were developed in collaboration with Invitrogen and contain Invitrogen's industry-leading SuperScript(TM) reverse transcriptase (RT). The One-Cycle cDNA Synthesis Kit offers all necessary reagents for standard target labeling, using as little as 1 ug of total RNA as starting material, prior to the IVT labeling step. This protocol has been used by the majority of Affymetrix customers already, but the new kit provides improved configuration and greater convenience.

The new Two-Cycle cDNA Synthesis Kit offers customers a streamlined procedure for preparing samples using a small amount of material, such as biopsy or laser capture dissected samples. The kit contains all necessary reagents for performing two cycles of cDNA synthesis before IVT Labeling. The entire two-cycle cDNA protocol takes only two and a half days, compared to four days with the previous procedure.

The cDNA Synthesis Kits are designed for use with the new GeneChip IVT Labeling Kit, which is used in standard and small sample target labeling protocol for linear amplification and labeling of the targets with biotin. The new GeneChip IVT Labeling Kit was developed specifically for the GeneChip platform and provides high-yield, consistent and uniform labeling efficiency, with a more streamlined protocol and convenient packaging. Affymetrix is currently taking orders for the new reagent kits.

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 cDNA Synthesis Kits and the GeneChip IVT Labeling Kit), 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, 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.

Source: Affymetrix, Inc.