SOLEXA FILES $100 MILLION SHELF REGISTRATION

HAYWARD, Calif. and Cambridge, UK (May 18, 2006) – Solexa, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLXA) today announced that it has filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). When declared effective by the SEC, the registration statement will allow the Company to issue securities, which may consist of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt or any combination thereof, in one or more future offerings up to a maximum aggregate offering amount of $100 million. The specific terms of any such future offerings and the type of securities to be issued would be determined at the time of any future offering.

The registration statement has not yet become effective, and the securities may not be offered or sold until such time as the registration statement is declared effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities, nor shall there be any sale of such securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under applicable law.

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. For further information, please visit www.solexa.com

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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