Helicos BioSciences Announces the First Ever Single-Molecule View of Whole Human Genome

Study Performed at Stanford University Published in Nature Biotechnology

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug 10, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Helicos BioSciences Corporation (NASDAQ: HLCS), a life science company focused on innovative genetic analysis technologies, today announced the publication of a breakthrough study in which a Helicos(TM) Genetic Analysis System was used to sequence a human genome at the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. The research article, now appearing in the on-line edition of Nature Biotechnology, demonstrates the power, accuracy and ease-of-use of the Helicos System.

The study, conducted by Dmitry Pushkarev, Norma Neff and Stephen Quake was carried out using less than four runs of a single HeliScope(TM) Single Molecule Sequencer, and achieved 28X average coverage of the human genome. The sequencing allowed the detection of over 2.8 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), of which over 370,000 were novel. Validation with a genotyping array demonstrated 99.8% concordance. The unbiased nature of the single-molecule sequencing approach also allowed the detection of 752 copy number variations (CNVs) in this genome.

"Helicos is very proud of this achievement and congratulates the Stanford group on their study; personal genome resequencing is another in a continuing series of major breakthroughs for our team as we bring the only true single-molecule sequencing available today to the market" said Ron Lowy, CEO of Helicos.

The Helicos Genetic Analysis System is the world's first and only commercially available, single molecule sequencing technology, and enables scientists to conduct revolutionary studies in the fields of genome biology, cancer research, common diseases genetics, and microbiology without adapter ligation or amplification. Unlike other technologies that require complex and costly sample preparation, the Helicos Genetic Analysis System can analyze DNA directly, with very little manipulation, allowing individual laboratories to conduct affordable, large-scale experiments.

"Consider just how quickly our technology has enabled a single lab to interrogate a human genome" said Patrice Milos, CSO of Helicos. "This represents a major shift in the way we expect human genomics to be carried out in the future, with the hope of ultimately impacting human disease" added Milos.

The sequence data from this publication are available at the National Institutes of Health National Center for Biotechnology Information Short Read Archive www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Traces/sra/sra.cgi.

About Helicos BioSciences:

Helicos BioSciences is a life science company focused on innovative genetic analysis technologies for the research, drug discovery, and diagnostic markets. Helicos' proprietary True Single Molecule Sequencing, tSMS(TM), technology allows direct measurement of billions of strands of DNA enabling scientists to perform experiments and ask questions never before possible. Helicos is a recipient of the $1,000 genome grant and committed to providing scientists the tools to unlock the era of genomic medicine. The company's corporate headquarters are located at One Kendall Square, Building 700, Cambridge, MA 02139, and its telephone number is (617) 264-1800. For more information, please visit www.helicosbio.com.

Certain statements made in this press release that are not based on historical information are forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, the prospective commercial and scientific value of the Stanford Institute's publication in Nature Biotechnology discussed in this press release, management's expectations surrounding the future of human genome resequencing initiatives, and management's plans, objectives and strategies. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Helicos' control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other things, our ability to successfully complete and/or scale the manufacturing and commercialization process for the Helicos Genetic Analysis System; our history of operating losses and ability to achieve profitability; our ability to sustain and scale our manufacturing capabilities; the research and development spending levels of academic, clinical and governmental research institutions and pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agriculture companies who may purchase our Helicos Genetic Analysis System; our reliance on third-party suppliers; competition; changing technology and customer requirements; our ability to operate in an emerging market; market acceptance of our technology; the length of our sales and implementation cycles; our dependence on large contracts for the sale and implementation of our Helicos Genetic Analysis System; failure of our technology and products; our ability to maintain customer relationships and contracts; ethical, legal and social concerns surrounding the use of genetic information; our ability to retain our personnel and hire additional skilled personnel; our ability to manage our growth while operating with limited resources; our ability to control our operating expenses; general economic and business conditions; our ability to obtain capital when desired on favorable terms; and the volatility of the market price of our common stock. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Helicos undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by Helicos, see the disclosure contained in Helicos' public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Relations:

Helicos BioSciences Corporation
Susan Shepard, 617-264-1850