MetaMorphix and Sequenom Agree to Build on Success

MetaMorphix, Inc. (MMI) and Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ:SQNM) today announced the strengthening of their partnership through MMI’s adoption of Sequenom’s MassARRAY® and iPLEX™ foundation technologies, which provide cost-effective genotyping and enhanced efficiencies. Sequenom’s leading edge high-throughput commercial platform for animal DNA screening and selection will allow MMI to scale up quickly, increasing MMI’s ability to handle its rapidly increasing sample volumes following MMI’s successful launches of DNA-based diagnostic products for both the livestock and companion animal markets. "The successful market acceptance of MMI’s genomic products has accelerated our need to produce millions of genotypes per year,” said Dr. Ed Quattlebaum, CEO and co-chairman of MetaMorphix, Inc. "Our Sequenom partnership provides the best enabling technology to meet our ever increasing customer demands in a timely and efficient manner.” Sequenom President and CEO, Dr. Harry Stylli, said, "We are delighted to expand our successful partnership with MMI, which is using innovative methods to improve livestock quality and developing products that enhance the health of companion animals. Our MassARRAY platform provides a synergistic fit for MMI’s genotyping endeavors as it is highly suitable for cost effective testing of a large number of DNA samples.” During 2007, MMI released seed-stock and feedlot management products for the livestock industry that were the end result of a partnership with Cargill, an international agricultural and food company. Feedlots owned by Cargill are currently being outfitted and upgraded to utilize the new DNA-based management tools that will allow for more economical and higher quality beef cattle production. Due to the large number of cattle DNA samples which Cargill will be sending to MMI labs, the high-throughput and cost effective Sequenom technologies are essential components of a successful operation. MMI and Sequenom have committed to an aggressive scale up schedule already underway. The Canine Heritage Breed™ Test, a product that uses DNA to genetically determine the breed composition of mixed breed dogs, was also released in 2007. As demand for the new product is very high, MMI looks to its partnership with Sequenom to address cost effective and rapid analysis to appropriately and consistently respond to consumer demand. Sequenom is a recognized leader in SNP-based genotyping platforms and demonstrated low cost, efficient testing and validation. "We have been very impressed with Sequenom’s continuous improvements in its core platform technologies since our initial collaboration in 2005,” added Dr. Quattlebaum. "This collaboration allows us early access to the highly efficient technologies allowing us to be ahead of the curve in offering cost effective products to our customers.” About MetaMorphix, Inc. MetaMorphix, Inc. is a life sciences company dedicated to discovering and commercializing multiple technology platforms to improve human and animal health. The company and its corporate partners are developing products to substantially increase livestock quality and production efficiency, to improve companion animal health, and to treat human muscle degenerative diseases and metabolic disorders utilizing MetaMorphix’s animal genomics and growth and differentiation factors (GDFs) technologies. MetaMorphix was founded in 1994; it has headquarters in Beltsville, MD, and lab facilities in Davis, CA. MetaMorphix safe harbor: Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "believe,” "expect,” "intend,” "anticipate,” "should,” "planned,” "estimated,” and "potential,” among others. These forward-looking statements are based on MetaMorphix Inc.’s current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor” for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, MetaMorphix Inc. notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance, development, and results of MetaMorphix Inc.’s business include but are not limited to; (1) unproven use of scientific information to develop or commercialize products; and (2) other factors that might be described from time to time in MetaMorphix Inc.’s business plan and regulatory filings. About Sequenom Sequenom is committed to providing the best genetic analysis products that translate genomic science into superior solutions for biomedical research, livestock and agricultural applications, molecular medicine, and non-invasive prenatal testing. Sequenom’s proprietary MassARRAY system is a high-performance nucleic acid analysis platform that efficiently and precisely measures the amount of genetic target material and variations therein. The system is able to deliver reliable and specific data from complex biological samples and from genetic target material that is only available in trace amounts. Sequenom has exclusively licensed intellectual property rights for the development and commercialization of non-invasive prenatal genetic tests for use with the MassARRAY system and other platforms. Sequenom®, iPLEXTM, and MassARRAY® are trademarks of Sequenom, Inc. Sequenom safe harbor: Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding expectations for and results from the partnership between Sequenom and MMI, future performance and activities committed to or planned by Sequenom and MMI including scale up plans, and demand for MMI’s and Sequenom’s products, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the risks and uncertainties associated with the Sequenom’s operating performance, demand for and market acceptance of the Sequenom’s products, services, and technologies, new technology and product development and commercialization, reliance upon the collaborative efforts of other parties such as MMI, research and development progress, competition, government regulation, obtaining or maintaining regulatory approvals, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Sequenom’s SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) filings, including Sequenom’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that may change and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Sequenom undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the issuance of this press release.