SOLEXA INTRODUCES THE SOLEXA GENOME ANALYSIS SYSTEM

Targets Human Genome Sequence in 2006 with Data to be Made Publicly Available

HAYWARD, Calif. and Cambridge, U.K. (December 12, 2005) – Solexa, Inc. (Nasdaq: SLXA) today announced the introduction of the Company’s DNA sequencing, expression profiling and micro-RNA analysis platform, the Solexa Genome Analysis System. The System, which is comprised of the Solexa 1G Genetic Analyzer, the Solexa Cluster Station and associated reagents, consumables, and software, is designed to generate over a billion bases of sequence per run. In addition to introducing the Solexa Genome Analysis System, the Company today announced plans to sequence the entire genome of a human in 2006 and to make sequence data publicly available.

With its significant data density and low operating cost, the Solexa Genome Analysis System has the potential to dramatically increase productivity while reducing costs by over two orders of magnitude relative to current state-of-the-art DNA sequencing technologies. The System is also intended to enable researchers to generate economical sequence-based digital readout of transcript abundance by assessing up to 5 million transcript tags per sample at costs comparable to those of hybridization arrays.

“This is an exceptionally exciting time for all of us at Solexa and the global research community. We believe that the versatility and cost profile of our groundbreaking Solexa Genome Analysis System have the potential to improve productivity significantly at the largest sequencing and expression centers as well as at core facilities and even individual laboratories,” said John West, Solexa’s chief executive officer. “This product introduction takes us a significant step closer to becoming the first company to deliver whole human genome sequencing at $100,000 per genome.”

“We expect to begin accepting orders to purchase systems and to ship initial production units during the second quarter of next year,” added Mr. West.
 

In October, Solexa announced that Company scientists had sequenced a human Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) on an early laboratory prototype instrument. Using the newer, laser-based instrument that is part of the Solexa Genome Analysis System, the 1G Genome Analyzer, Solexa scientists have achieved the same level of coverage, consensus accuracy and polymorphism detection as in the earlier work.

Sequencing a Human Genome in 2006

Solexa also announced its intention to use the Solexa Genome Analysis System to sequence the entire genome of a human during 2006. The individual DNA will be chosen by Solexa from among the set of anonymous samples recently used in the International Haplotype Mapping Project (HapMap) on the basis of scientific merit and the availability of fully informed consent for its use, including free public release of the sequence data. This sequencing project is intended to afford the Company and researchers throughout the world the opportunity to compare results generated by the Solexa Genome Analysis System with other publicly available data.

“In sequencing a human genome, our aim is to demonstrate the performance of the Solexa Genome Analysis System. We expect this endeavor to display the suitability of our platform for rapid and cost-effective human genome sequencing and to pave the way for new applications in medical sequencing, such as the Cancer Genome Project,” stated Dr. David Bentley, chief scientist of Solexa. “Solexa intends to release sequence data at regular intervals in 2006, so that researchers can objectively assess the output of the Solexa Genome Analysis System in comparison with previously validated, high-quality genetic data already in the public domain.”

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 micro-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 re-sequencing 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 intellectual property matters, future products, product development including the commercial introduction 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, 2004 and its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005. Solexa does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Solexa, Inc.
Omead Ostadan, Vice President of Marketing
(510) 670-9300
oostadan@solexa.com


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