CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–Helicos BioSciences (Nasdaq:HLCS) announced today that Patrice Milos, PhD, the company’s Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, will be a featured speaker at the CHI Next Generation Sequencing, Platforms and Progress conference in San Diego, CA on Tuesday, March 17. Dr. Milos will present an update of the company’s progress and provide insight into the growing list of scientific applications that can be performed using the Helicos™ Genetic Analysis Platform.

Based on the company’s proprietary True Single Molecule Sequencing (tSMS)™ technology, the platform is ideally suited for researchers looking to perform in-depth genome biology experiments. Dr. Milos will provide the first data that benefits from the combination of the company’s 2nd generation single molecule sequencing chemistry and version 2 software suite. Together, these improvements provide sequencing performance in the range of 600 to 800 million sequence reads of average length ~33 bases, extending to 55 bases. With a throughput of ~160 million bases per hour, each HeliScope™ Sequencer run provides 20 to 30 billion bases of usable output.

This performance, combined with the technology’s simple, amplification-free sample preparation methods, small sample requirements and unrivaled sequencing and quantitative accuracy, enables a wide range of applications for genomic researchers. For the first time, Dr. Milos will present HeliScope Sequencer data utilizing Helicos’s unique prep-free paired reads method applied to genomic samples including bacterial DNA, human transcriptome and human genomic DNA. In addition, Dr. Milos will present data on applications that combine sequence information with quantitative measurements to understand genome biology including transcriptome measurements, copy number variation and ChIP-sequencing. With the platform’s ability to sequence a massive number of reads in 50 individual samples in parallel, these applications can be performed in a high throughput manner, at costs below those of competing next-generation sequencing approaches and even standard microarrays.

Summary information on these and other applications is now available on the company’s recently updated web site at www.helicosbio.com.

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, tSMSTM, 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 is 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.

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 value of the technical performance improvements of the company’s products and the paired read method discussed in this press release, 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 establish 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.