Affymetrix and Stratagene Announce Strategic Software Alliance

    Business Editors/High-Tech Writers/Health/Medical Writers

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. & LA JOLLA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 7, 2005--Affymetrix (Nasdaq:AFFX) and Stratagene (Nasdaq:STGN) announced today that they have entered into a non-exclusive strategic alliance under which Stratagene will provide Affymetrix customers with new software solutions for GeneChip(R) data analysis. As part of this agreement, Stratagene will develop a new software package for Affymetrix, ArrayAssist(R) Lite, which will be offered as a standard statistical analysis solution of Affymetrix gene expression microarrays.
    In April 2005, Affymetrix will make ArrayAssist Lite available to its existing GeneChip customers via the Internet and will also begin pre-installing the software on new GeneChip workstation desktops. Through an easy-to-use interface and tightly integrated workflow, ArrayAssist Lite will enable the application of industry-leading statistical algorithms and generation of standard Affymetrix-format data files and reports. In its first release, ArrayAssist Lite will support RMA, GC-RMA, MAS5, and also PLIER, a new advanced signal estimator developed by Affymetrix statisticians. Affymetrix customers will also be given the option of upgrading to Stratagene's ArrayAssist software, which provides advanced downstream analysis capabilities such as gene clustering, pattern detection, and interactive visualizations.
    "ArrayAssist Lite software will provide highly accurate, precise and sensitive methods needed to support expression research," said Jason Goncalves, General Manager of Stratagene's software solutions business. "We've placed these capabilities in a software tool designed for life scientists, and the result will be better quality data to accelerate biological discovery and validation."
    "We are very pleased to announce this expansion of our longstanding relationship with Stratagene," said Steve Lincoln, Vice-President of Informatics at Affymetrix. "The combination of our GeneChip platform and the ArrayAssist software makes the industry-leading methods for measuring gene expression on a genomic-scale available to an ever broadening community of life scientists."
    As part of the agreement, Stratagene has joined the community of Affymetrix partners developing methods for next-generation gene expression microarrays. "Affymetrix' tiling arrays are revolutionizing functional analysis," said Dr. Joseph A. Sorge, Chairman and CEO of Stratagene. "We believe that our technology will provide key functionality needed to support important genomic studies. In addition, we're very excited to join Affymetrix' consortium of developers in an effort to bring to market breakthrough gene expression microarray technology. By partnering with other thought leaders in our field, we believe we have the opportunity to position our technology as a standard for expression analysis."

    About Affymetrix:

    Affymetrix scientists invented the world's first high-density microarray in 1989 and began selling the first commercial microarray in 1994. Since then, Affymetrix GeneChip(R) technology has become the industry standard in molecular biology research. Affymetrix technology is used by the world's top pharmaceutical, diagnostic and biotechnology companies as well as leading academic, government and not-for-profit research institutes. More than 1,200 systems have been shipped around the world and nearly 3,000 peer-reviewed papers have been published using the technology. Affymetrix' patented photolithographic manufacturing process provides the most information capacity available today on an array, enabling researchers to use a whole-genome approach to analyzing the relationship between genetics and health. Affymetrix is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., with manufacturing facilities in Sacramento, Calif., and Bedford, Mass. The company maintains important sales and marketing operations in Europe and Asia and has about 900 employees worldwide.

    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 of 1934, 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 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.

    About Stratagene Corporation:

    Stratagene is a developer, marketer and manufacturer of specialized life science research and diagnostic products. The Company's life science research supports advances in science by inventing, manufacturing and distributing products that simplify, accelerate and improve research. These products are used throughout the academic, industrial and government research sectors in fields spanning molecular biology, genomics, proteomics, drug discovery and toxicology. The Company's diagnostic operating unit develops and manufactures products for urinalysis, and high quality automated instrument and reagent systems that use blood samples to test for more than 1,000 different allergies and autoimmune disorders. In addition, by combining its expertise in diagnostics and molecular biology, as well as its experience with FDA regulatory procedures, the Company is pursuing opportunities to expand its product portfolio to include molecular diagnostics kits and instrumentation.

    This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are therefore entitled to the protection of the safe harbor provisions of these laws. Stratagene generally identifies forward-looking statements by using words like "believe," "intend," "target," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "anticipate," "predict" or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements are risks associated with the absence of a public market for the Stratagene common stock prior to the Hycor merger transaction, the failure of the company to manage the cost of integrating Stratagene and Hycor, the company's inability to sufficiently anticipate market needs and develop products and product enhancements that achieve market acceptance, the company's ability to compete effectively in the diagnostics and life sciences research markets, variability of the company's quarterly revenues and operating results, the failure of the company to retain key employees, the company's ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing, the possibility of declining sales due in part to a reduction in research and development budgets or government funding, and the company's ongoing ability to protect its own intellectual property rights and to avoid violating the intellectual property rights of third parties. For more information about these and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements please refer to the "risk factors" contained in Stratagene's Form S-4 Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-109420) relating to the Hycor merger transaction and in other reports filed by Stratagene from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual reports on Form 10-K.

    NOTE: Stratagene, the Stratagene logo, and ArrayAssist are trademarks owned or used by Stratagene.

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CONTACT: Stratagene Corporation Reg Jones, 858-535-5400 ext. 15419 or Affymetrix, Inc. Wes Conard, 408-731-5791 (Media) Doug Farrell, 408-731-5285 (Investor) or EVC Group, Inc. for Stratagene Corporation Chris Toth, 415-896-6820 (Media) Douglas Sherk, 415-896-6820 (Investor) Jennifer Beugelmans, 415-896-6820 (Investor)

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MANUFACTURING BIOTECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE INTERNET E-COMMERCE PRODUCT MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Stratagene Corporation

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