Merck Licenses Enabling Microarray Manufacturing and Gene Expression Technology from Incyte Genomics Palo Alto, CA, April 11, 2001 - Incyte Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: INCY), the leading genomic information company, announced today it has licensed U.S. Patent Numbers 5,716,785 and 5,891,636, to Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) for use in creating gene expression data microarrays. Additionally, Incyte has licensed U.S. Patent Numbers 5,807,522 and 6,110,426 to Merck for internal manufacturing of microarrays. Financial terms were not disclosed. "We have seen increasing use of our fundamental microarray technologies for microarray manufacture and for the generation of gene expression data from microarrays," said Roy A. Whitfield, Chief Executive Officer of Incyte. "We are pleased that Merck is one of a growing list of companies that have recognized the value of our proprietary technology to maximize the effectiveness of their highly developed microarray based gene expression and internal microarray manufacture programs." Incyte was granted an exclusive license under the '785 and '636 patents by Layton Bioscience, Inc. The technology was invented by James H. Eberwine, Russell N. Van Gelder, Mark E. Von Zastrow, and Jack D. Barchas. These patents, which cover the use of a non-PCR based RNA amplification technology, allow researchers to produce gene expression data by linearly increasing RNA sample size from cellular mRNA. In addition to the Layton patents, Incyte was granted an exclusive license to the Stanford University microarray portfolio of patents, which include the '522 and '426 patents, covering one of the most widely used methods of microarray manufacture. The inventors of the patents are Tidhar Dari and Patrick O. Brown of Stanford University. For additional information on licensing these patents, interested parties should contact Holly Marcum, Sr. Director of Corporate Development, at 650.621.7608. Incyte Genomics, Inc. is the leading provider of an integrated platform of genomic technologies designed to aid in the understanding of the molecular basis of disease. Incyte develops and markets genomic databases and partnership programs, genomic data management software, microarray-based gene expression services, related reagents and services. These products, programs, and services assist pharmaceutical and biotechnology researchers with all phases of drug discovery and development, including gene discovery, understanding disease pathways, identifying new disease targets and the discovery and correlation of gene sequence variation to disease. For more information, visit Incyte's web site at www.incyte.com. Merck & Co., Inc. is a leading research-driven pharmaceutical products and services company. Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of innovative products to improve human and animal health, directly and through its joint ventures. Merck-Medco Managed Care manages pharmacy benefits for employers, insurers and other plan sponsors, encouraging the appropriate use of medicines and providing disease management programs. Through these complementary capabilities, Merck works to improve quality of life and contain overall health-care costs. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements as to the role of Incyte's products, proprietary technology and database information in third-party research programs and the extent to which genome-based research will assist researchers in their drug discovery efforts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the extent to which genomic databases are utilized in pharmaceutical research and development; the ability of Incyte to provide products and services that meet market needs; the impact of competition and alternative technologies, processes and approaches; and other risks detailed from time to time in Incyte's SEC reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Incyte disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.