Roche Launches the Genome Sequencer FLX System, the second generation of the 454 sequencing technology

Roche Diagnostics and 454 Life Sciences Corporation, a majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corporation’s (Nasdaq: CRGN), announce the world wide launch of the Genome Sequencer FLX System.

“As the market leader in next generation sequencing technologies with a global installed base and more than 50 peer reviewed publications, including the cover page of five different journals, Roche Diagnostics is proud to introduce its second generation instrument.,” stated Manfred Baier, Head of Roche Applied Science. “GS 20 systems already in use can be upgraded easily to the Genome Sequencer FLX on-site”.

The first Genome Sequencer FLX systems were delivered to evaluation sites in November 2006, including major genome centers. Roche will present the system and supporting applications data at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) Annual Meeting, which is set for Feb. 7-10 in Marco Island, Florida.

Manufacturered by 454 Life Sciences and co-developed in cooperation with Roche Diagnostics, the system builds on the companies’ joint commitment to innovation in high-throughput sequencing through the provision of longer read lengths and enhanced throughput. Researchers have maximum flexibility in the number and types of applications they can address; such as, EST sequencing, identification of small RNAs and transcription factor binding sites, whole genome sequencing, and metagenomics.

Christopher McLeod, president and CEO of 454 Life Sciences, added: “We are pleased to offer customers a flexible platform that will meet the needs of researchers across a broad array of disciplines, ranging from cancer research and resequencing for medical research, to transcriptome analyses to microbial genomics: the Genome Sequencer FLX represents one of the most flexible high throughput sequencers for research needs.”

The new Genome Sequencer FLX provides:

- Average read lengths between 200 – 300 bases, depending on the application and the organism

- Greater than 400,000 reads per run on average

- Single read accuracy greater than 99.5% over 200 bases

- Consensus accuracy exceeding 99.99%

- Yield per run of approximately 100 MB in less than eight hours

The enhanced read lengths and improved accuracy enable an even broader range of applications at exceedingly higher data quality, based on improved mapping and assembly.

About Roche and the Roche Diagnostics Division

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a supplier of innovative products and services for the early detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people’s health and quality of life. Roche is a world leader in diagnostics, the leading supplier of medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market leader in virology. In 2005, sales by the Pharmaceuticals Division totalled 27.3 billion Swiss francs, and the Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.2 billion Swiss francs. Roche employs roughly 70,000 people in 150 countries and has R&D agreements and strategic alliances with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. Roche’s Diagnostics Division offers a uniquely broad product portfolio and supplies a wide array of innovative testing products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories world-wide. For further information, please visit our websites http://www.roche.com and www.roche-diagnostics.com.

About 454 Life Sciences

454 Life Sciences, a majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corporation (NASDAQ: CRGN), develops and commercializes novel instrumentation for high-throughput DNA sequencing. Specific applications include whole-genome sequencing, RNA analysis and ultra-deep sequencing of target genes. The hallmarks of 454 Sequencing™ are its simple, unbiased sample preparation and massively parallel sequencing, which makes large-scale scientific projects feasible and more affordable. In 2005, 454 Sequencing and the Genome Sequencer 20 System won The Wall Street Journal’s top Innovation Award for 2005, and received an R&D 100 Editor’s Choice Award as one of the most technologically significant products in 2006. The 454 Sequencing Center offers sequencing services directly to customers on a fee for service basis.  The Genome Sequencer systems are exclusively distributed for 454 Life Sciences by Roche Applied Science, a division of Roche Diagnostics. For additional information please visit http://www.454.com.