Mexico's National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN) Unveils New Illumina Genotyping and Gene Expression Analysis Facility

Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) today announced the opening of a Genotyping and Gene Expression Analysis Unit at the National Institute of Genomic Medicine (INMEGEN) in Mexico City. The new unit is part of a 40,000 square foot facility being constructed by INMEGEN and will house a fully-automated Illumina BeadStation. Capable of analyzing thousands of samples per year, the BeadStation is a complete bench-top solution enabling whole-genome and targeted analysis of both DNA and RNA. Using Illumina’s BeadArray® technology, powered by the GoldenGate® and Infinium® Assays, INMEGEN scientists will initiate the second phase of the Mexican HapMap project. This large-scale project will include single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping and gene expression studies that characterize the genetic variation of the Mexican population. Investigators working on the HapMap initiative, slated for completion in late 2007, will analyze samples from 1,200 individuals in six States of Mexico, including Yucatan, Sonora, Guerrero, Veracruz, Zacatecas, and Guanajuato. "INMEGEN plays a critical role in contributing to Mexico’s health through the development of excellent scientific research. The opening of INMEGEN’s new genomics facility, including the Illumina Genotyping and Gene Expression Unit, is a testament to the vitality of the life science industry in our country,” said Jose Angel Cordova Villalobos, M.D., Secretary of Health of Mexico. "The goals of INMEGEN, made possible in part by the Illumina Genotyping and Gene Expression Unit, are to incorporate genomics into methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, to enhance genomics training and research, to educate the public, and to make available advances in technology,” said Gerardo Jimenez-Sanchez, M.D., Ph.D., Director of INMEGEN. "Based upon results from the second phase of the Mexican HapMap Project, we will be able to lay the foundation necessary to improve and accelerate the development of clinical genomic medicine.” "We are excited to partner with INMEGEN and to provide their excellent research team with the technology necessary to help accelerate genetic and genomic discovery in Mexico,” said Jay Flatley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Illumina. About Illumina Illumina is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of next-generation life-science tools and integrated systems for the large-scale analysis of genetic variation and biological function. Using our proprietary technologies, we provide a comprehensive line of products and services that currently serve the sequencing, genotyping, and gene expression markets, and we expect to enter the market for molecular diagnostics. Our customers include leading genomic research centers, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, clinical research organizations, and biotechnology companies. Our tools provide researchers around the world with the performance, throughput, cost effectiveness, and flexibility necessary to perform the billions of genetic tests needed to extract valuable medical information from advances in genomics and proteomics. We believe this information will enable researchers to correlate genetic variation and biological function, which will enhance drug discovery and clinical research, allow diseases to be detected earlier, and permit better choices of drugs for individual patients. "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: this release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements are the costs and outcome of Illumina's litigation with Affymetrix and our ability (i) to integrate effectively our recent acquisition of Solexa, Inc., (ii) to develop and commercialize further our BeadArray(TM), VeraCode(TM) and Solexa® technologies and to deploy new gene expression and genotyping products and applications for our technology platforms, (iii) to manufacture robust micro arrays and Oligator® oligonucleotides, (iv) to integrate and scale our VeraCode technology, (v) to scale further oligo synthesis output and technology to satisfy market demand derived from our collaboration with Invitrogen, together with other factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including our recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q or in information disclosed in public conference calls, the date and time of which are released beforehand. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements beyond the date of this release.