KeyGene Selects 454 Life Sciences’ Novel Sequencing Technology To Enable Large-Scale SNP Discovery And Detection In Higher Eukaryotic Organisms

BRANFORD, Conn., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 454 Life Sciences Corporation, a majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corporation , announced today that its Genome Sequencer 20 system has been selected and purchased by Keygene N.V. to enable its proprietary Complexity Reduction of Polymorphic Sequences (CRoPS(TM)) technology. The Genome Sequencer 20 system was developed by 454 Life Sciences and is distributed by Roche Applied Science. Keygene and 454 Life Sciences have also entered into a collaboration to develop other proprietary applications in the field of plant genetics.

“Keygene is a leading service provider in the genetic analysis of plants, animals and micro-organisms,” said Chris McLeod, President and CEO of 454 Life Sciences. “We are pleased that they have selected the Genome Sequencer 20 to enable the CRoPS technology, and we look forward to collaborating with Keygene to continue to advance plant genetics.”

Keygene developed the CRoPS technology to enable large-scale single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery and detection in higher eukaryotic organisms, including plants with very large and complex genomes. The CRoPS method, which Keygene will present to the scientific community at the Plant & Animal Genome Conference in San Diego on January 17-19, 2006, works through combining AFLP(R) mediated DNA complexity reduction methods with the powerful high-throughput sequencing technology developed by 454.

“We selected and purchased the Genome Sequencer 20 system because our research showed that it was the only platform currently available with throughput sufficient for the needs of our CRoPS technology,” stated Arjen van Tunen, Keygene’s CEO. “This collaboration with 454 Life Sciences enables Keygene to create better solutions for our research partners and customers by continuing to increase the efficiency of genotyping in plants.”

About 454 Life Sciences Corporation

454 Life Sciences, a 66% majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corporation , is commercializing next-generation instrumentation and measurement services for rapidly and comprehensively conducting high- throughput nucleotide sequencing, with specific application to sequencing of whole genomes and ultra-deep sequencing of target genes. 454 Life Sciences’ Genome Sequencer 20 System enables one individual to prepare and sequence an entire genome after performing a single sample preparation, irrespective of the size of the genome being studied. The hallmark of 454 Life Sciences’ technology is the PicoTiterPlate(TM), which allows a single instrument using patented light emitting sequencing chemistries to produce over 20 million nucleotide bases per five-hour run, totaling more than 100 times the capacity of instruments using the current macro-scale technology.

The Genome Sequencer 20 System and reagents are available exclusively from Roche Applied Sciences. For additional information on the Genome Sequencer 20 System and reagents, please visit http://www.roche-applied-science.com/sis/sequencing/genome/. 454 Life Sciences offers sequencing services directly to customers on a fee for service basis at their state-of-the-art Measurement Services Center. For additional information on 454 Life Sciences, please visit http://www.454.com.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. These statements include statements concerning the ability of 454 Live Sciences’ technology to enable large-scale SNP discovery and detection in higher eukaryotic organisms; 454 Life Sciences’ expectation that its collaboration with Keygene will continue to advance plant genetics; and Keygene’s belief that the collaboration with 454 Life Sciences will enable Keygene to create better solutions for its research partners and customers by continuing to increase the efficiency of genotyping in plants. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. 454 Life Sciences and CuraGen caution investors that there can be no assurance that actual results or business conditions will not differ materially from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the following: the early stage of development of 454 Life Sciences’ products and technologies; customer acceptance of 454 Life Sciences’ products and technologies; 454 Life Sciences’ ability to scale-up production of its products and technologies; disputes between 454 Life Sciences and CuraGen; the success of competing products and technologies; technological uncertainty and product development risks; uncertainties of clinical trials, government regulation and healthcare reform; uncertainty of additional funding with respect to both CuraGen and 454 Life Sciences; 454 Life Sciences’ and CuraGen’s history of incurring losses and the uncertainty of achieving profitability; CuraGen’s stage of development as a genomics-based pharmaceutical company; patent infringement claims against 454 Life Sciences’ and CuraGen’s products, processes and technologies; the ability to protect 454 Life Sciences’ and CuraGen’s patents and proprietary rights; uncertainties relating to commercialization rights; product liability exposure; and competition. Please refer to CuraGen’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2005 for a complete description of these risks. 454 Life Sciences and CuraGen disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless required by law.

Contacts: 454 Life Sciences Peter Dacey Vice President, Finance info@454.com (877) 890-GNOM Noonan Russo Emily Poe Vice President Emily.poe@eurorscg.com (212) 845-4266

454 Life Sciences; CuraGen Corporation

CONTACT: Peter Dacey, Vice President, Finance of 454 Life Sciences,info@454.com, +1-877-890-GNOM; or Emily Poe, Vice President of NoonanRusso, Emily.poe@eurorscg.com, +1-212-845-4266

MORE ON THIS TOPIC