GEML Community Announces New Members; GeneticXchange, InforMax and NetGenics to Assist in Development and Promotion of GEML File Format.

Business Editors & Medical Writers

KIRKLAND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2001

Rosetta Inpharmatics, Inc. (Nasdaq:RSTA) today announced that GeneticXchange, InforMax and NetGenics have joined the GEML(TM) Community.

Launched by Rosetta Inpharmatics in November 2000, the GEML Community is comprised of users and providers in the field of genomics who develop, support and employ the Gene Expression Markup Language (GEML) file format for exchange and annotation of gene expression data. The GEML Community was established as a forum for members to exchange ideas regarding the future of gene expression data interchange, and to participate in the ongoing development of the GEML format.

"Rosetta Inpharmatics initially developed the GEML file format to foster collaboration and give researchers a robust, flexible, common language with which to exchange gene expression information," said Douglas E. Bassett, Jr., Ph.D., Senior Director of BioSoftware Products & Services at Rosetta Inpharmatics. "We are pleased that GeneticXchange, InforMax and NetGenics share our goal to promote discovery through increased ease of data interchange."

Under the GEML Community Member Agreement, members work together to develop future versions of the format and encourage the application of the GEML format within the genomics field. Members are committed to making their software products GEML-compatible, providing both import and export capabilities to encourage widespread adoption of the format. Additional information about the GEML format and the GEML Community may be found on the Internet at www.geml.org.

About Rosetta Inpharmatics

Rosetta Inpharmatics is a leading provider of informational genomics solutions. By combining the power of informatics and genomics, Rosetta Inpharmatics has created proprietary technology that accelerates and enhances the drug discovery process for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and that can be used to improve agricultural products. Rosetta Inpharmatics' technology generates coherent gene expression data from DNA chips or microarrays, and applies powerful genomic analysis tools to provide comprehensive, simultaneous information about all relevant genes and targets within a cell. Information about Rosetta Inpharmatics can be found on the Web at www.rii.com.

Rosetta Inpharmatics' Forward-Looking Statements 

Certain of the statements made in this news release are forward-looking such as those, among others, relating to the ability of Rosetta Inpharmatics' GEML format to promote discovery through increased ease of data exchange and GEML Community members' commitment to encourage widespread adoption of the format. These statements are based on factors that involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Some risks and factors that may cause actual results, events or performance to differ materially from those referred to in such statements include, among others, Rosetta Inpharmatics' recent entry into the bioinformatics market, uncertainty of market acceptance of Rosetta Inpharmatics' technologies, ability to compete against existing data format technologies, and other risks and factors set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-32780).