HAYWARD, Calif. and Cambridge, UK (May 16, 2006) – Solexa, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLXA) today announced that it has been selected for addition to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index® (Nasdaq: NBI) effective Monday, May 22, 2006.  Securities included in the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index must be listed on the NASDAQ National Market and be classified according to the FTSE™ Global Classification System as either biotechnology or pharmaceutical.  Additionally, securities in the index must meet minimum requirements for market value, average daily share volume and seasoning as a public company, among other criteria.

“We welcome our addition to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index and the potential for increased visibility for our Company within the investment community,” said John West, Chief Executive Officer of Solexa. 

Launched in 1993, the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index is ranked on a semi-annual basis in May and November and serves as the basis for the ishares NASDAQ Biotechnology Fund^SM (IBB).  For more information about the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, including eligibility criteria, visit www.nasdaq.com. 

- ENDS - 

About Solexa

Solexa, Inc. is developing and preparing to commercialize the Solexa Genome Analysis System, which will be used to perform a range of analyses including whole genome resequencing, gene expression analysis and small RNA analysis. Solexa expects its first-generation instrument, the 1G Genome Analyzer, to generate over a billion bases of DNA sequence per run and to enable whole genome resequencing below $100,000 per sample, making it the first platform to reach this important milestone. Solexa's longer-term goal is to reduce the cost of human resequencing to a few thousand dollars for use in a wide range of applications from basic research through clinical diagnostics. For further information, please visit www.solexa.com. 

This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, including statements related to the current views of Solexa management as to future products, product development, commercialization of the Company’s novel genetic analysis technology, and the expansion and success of Solexa's commercial application of its genomics technologies.  Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "predicts," "expects," "envisions," "hopes," "estimates," "intends," "will," "continue," "may," "potential," "should," "confident," "could" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such expectations of any of the forward-looking statements will prove to be correct, and actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in the forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the results of Solexa to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements including, among others, risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.  Solexa does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.  

For more information, please contact:  

Solexa, Inc.   

Linda Rubinstein, Vice President and CFO

lrubinstein@solexa.com

510/670-9300

European Media Contact:

Northbank Communications

Sue Charles, CEO

+44 (0)20 7886 8152

s.charles@northbankcommunications.com  

Investor Contacts: 

Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates

Jody Cain (jcain@lhai.com)

Mariann Ohanesian (mohanesian@lhai.com)

310/691-7100