Illumina and Agilent Technologies to Co-Market Targeted Resequencing Solution

New Offering Brings Together Long Reads on Illumina`s Genome Analyzer with
Agilent`s SureSelect Platform To Substantially Simplify Workflow
SAN DIEGO & SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) and Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) today announced
they have entered into a non-exclusive co-marketing agreement to support a new,
scalable solution for researchers conducting targeted resequencing studies. The
Agilent SureSelect Target Enrichment System, optimized for Illumina`s
widely-adopted next-generation sequencing platform, the Genome Analyzer,
provides researchers with a method for efficiently resequencing specific regions
of interest in the genome. This cost-effective approach significantly simplifies
the lab process while providing even coverage and high alignment rates. When
combined with Illumina`s Genome Analyzer, the Agilent SureSelect Target
Enrichment System allows researchers to conduct studies that otherwise would not
be feasible.

Illumina and Agilent are highlighting the benefits of their combined solution at
the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) meeting this week in Denver,
Colorado. The new research protocol enables scientists to interrogate multiple
regions of interest in order to detect rare mutations, such as those commonly
found in cancer, while taking advantage of low sample input requirements.
Targeted resequencing also enables scientists to sequence areas identified
through genome-wide association studies in addition to sequencing candidate
genes and candidate regions.

Chad Nusbaum, Co-director of the Genome Sequencing and Analysis program at MIT`s
Broad Institute, described the hybrid selection technique utilized by Agilent`s
SureSelect technology in the February 2009 issue of Nature Biotechnology. "We
have developed a hybrid-selection method for enriching specific subsets of a
genome that is flexible, scalable, and efficient. Targeting based on hybrid
selection may be potentially useful for a variety of applications where
traditional single-plex PCR is either too costly or too specific. Examples are
enrichment of precious ancient DNA that is heavily contaminated with unwanted
DNA, deep sequencing of viral populations in clinical samples, or metagenomics
analyses of environmental or medical specimens."

"A partnership with Agilent underscores our commitment to build upon the utility
of our next-generation sequencing technology, helping researchers plan and
execute studies at a scale never before possible," said Jay Flatley, President
and CEO of Illumina. "We continue to expand our portfolio of solutions with
powerful tools for studying genetic variation. This solution provides the
research community with a cost-effective, automation-friendly, and flexible
approach to targeted resequencing for a wide variety of applications."

"The Agilent SureSelect Target Enrichment System requires only standard
equipment already in the next-generation sequencing workflow," said Nick
Roelofs, Ph.D., Agilent`s Vice President and General Manager, Life Science
Solutions Unit. "The SureSelect platform draws upon Agilent`s distinctive
ability to accurately and reliably custom-manufacture oligos greater than 100
base pairs, resulting in highly specific capture of genome variance. When
combined with Illumina`s Genome Analyzer, researchers can design their own
experiments and take advantage of Illumina`s long reads to achieve timely,
reproducible results while reducing cost and increasing robustness. The
SureSelect System enables scientists to easily and efficiently design custom
content through eArray probe design and incorporate automation for scalability
and cost efficiencies."

For more information about the new targeted resequencing solution please visit
http://www.illumina.com/resequencing or http://www.opengenomics.com/SureSelect.

About Illumina`s Genome Analyzer

Designed for facilities of all sizes, the Illumina Genome Analyzer has been
adopted across genome centers worldwide, as well as individual research labs,
core and service facilities, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. The
Genome Analyzer offers the highest rate of daily output and the simplest, most
user-friendly workflow. The Genome Analyzer supports the broadest set of
applications, including those used to profile and discover novel transcripts, to
create high-resolution genome-wide maps of DNA-protein binding sites and to
sequence entire human genomes to greater than 30x coverage. For more information
about the Genome Analyzer and to read what customers are doing with Illumina's
sequencing technology, please visit http://www.illumina.com/sequencing.

About Agilent`s SureSelect Target Enrichment System

The SureSelect Target Enrichment System is a unique tool for greatly
streamlining next generation sequencing research by enabling scientists to
sequence only genomic areas of interest. When sequencing only a particular
segment of the genome, the Agilent SureSelect platform can be used to capture a
subset of exons or other genome targets and wash away the rest of the genome.
SureSelect replaces other labor-intensive methods of targeted re-sequencing such
as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques that are a major bottleneck in
most next-generation sequencing workflows.

About Agilent

Agilent Technologies Inc. (www.agilent.com) is the world's premier measurement
company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences
and chemical analysis. The company's 19,000 employees serve customers in more
than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $5.8 billion in fiscal 2008.
Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

About Illumina

Illumina (www.illumina.com) is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer
of innovative, 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 Illumina's
ability (i) to integrate effectively our recent acquisition of Solexa, Inc.,
(ii) to develop and commercialize further our BeadArray(TM), VeraCode(TM) and
Solexa(R) technologies and to deploy new gene expression and genotyping products
and applications for our technology platforms, (iii) to manufacture robust micro
arrays and Oligator(R) 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.

Illumina Contacts:
Media:
Maurissa Bornstein
Public Relations Manager
858-332-4055
mbornstein@illumina.com
or
Investor:
Peter J. Fromen
Sr. Director, Investor Relations
858-202-4507
pfromen@illumina.com
or
Agilent Contact:
Stuart Matlow
408-553-7191
stuart_matlow@agilent.com

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