Jul 12, 2005 Press Release for Alnylam

Alnylam Grants Eurogentec License to Fundamental RNAi Patents in the Research Products Market

Jul 12, 2005

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & SERAING, Belgium--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 12, 2005--Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has granted Eurogentec, a leading provider of genomics research solutions, a non-exclusive license to provide research products and services in RNA interference (RNAi) under the Kreutzer-Limmer patent family owned by Alnylam. This patent family covers short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and their use to mediate RNAi in mammalian cells.

"Life science reagent suppliers like Eurogentec continue to recognize that the Kreutzer-Limmer patent family represents fundamental intellectual property in the field of RNAi," said Vincent Miles, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Business Development of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. "The strength of this IP is a key component of our strategy to build value now and in the future, and is well illustrated by the significant and growing number of companies that have taken licenses for therapeutic or research product applications - eleven companies in total with this new license, six of them research product suppliers."

"As a leading supplier of innovative products and services, Eurogentec is committed to supplying its customers with the tools they need in the field of RNAi," said Jean-Pierre Delwart, Chief Executive Officer of Eurogentec. "The license agreement with Alnylam exemplifies Eurogentec's commitment to providing RNAi solutions to the scientific research community."

About RNA Interference (RNAi)
RNA interference, or RNAi, is a naturally occurring mechanism within cells for selectively silencing and regulating specific genes. Since many diseases are caused by the inappropriate activity of specific genes, the ability to silence and regulate such genes selectively through RNAi could provide a means to treat a wide range of human diseases. The discovery of RNAi has been heralded by many as a major breakthrough, and the journal Science named RNAi the top scientific achievement of 2002, as well as one of the top 10 scientific advances of 2003.

About Alnylam
Alnylam is a biopharmaceutical company seeking to develop and commercialize novel therapeutics based on RNA interference, or RNAi. Growing from its foundation as the world's first company focused on RNAi therapeutics, the company's leadership in the field of RNAi is supported by its preeminent founders and advisors and its strengths in fundamental patents, technology, and know-how that underlie the commercialization of RNAi therapeutics. Alnylam is developing a pipeline of RNAi products using Direct RNAi^™ to treat ocular, central nervous system, and respiratory diseases and Systemic RNAi^™ to treat a broad range of diseases, including oncology, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases. The company's global headquarters are in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For additional information, please visit www.alnylam.com.

About Eurogentec
Eurogentec is a Belgian company offering first-class service in oligonucleotides, Real-Time PCR and DNA Array, monoclonal and polyclonal antibody production and peptide synthesis. In addition, the company has expertise for the development of new biopharmaceuticals from R&D to GMP clinical batches manufacturing and is also a recognized Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) for in vitro Diagnostic. Eurogentec was founded in 1985 as a spin-off from the University of Liege. Eurogentec has its headquarters in the LIEGE Science Park and employs 286 people around the world. The Company has subsidiaries in Europe (France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Switzerland), in the United States (San Diego CA) and joint-ventures in Asia (Japan and Singapore). For additional information, please visit www.eurogentec.com.

Alnylam Forward-Looking Statements
Various statements in this release concerning our future expectations, plans, prospects and future operating results constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including risks related to: our approach to discover and develop novel drugs, which is unproven and may never lead to marketable products; our ability to obtain additional funding to support our business activities; our dependence on third parties for development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of our products; the successful development of products, all of which are in early stages of development; obtaining regulatory approval for products; competition from others using technology similar to ours and others developing products for similar uses; obtaining, maintaining and protecting intellectual property utilized by our products; and our short operating history; as well as those risks more fully discussed in the "Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results" section of our most recent Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent our views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

CONTACT:
Investor:
Lilian Stern, Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
1+212-362-1200, or
Jean-Pierre Delwart,
Eurogentec,
+32 4 372 74 00, or
Media:
Kathryn Morris,
1+845-635-9828
Isabelle Body,
Eurogentec,
+32 4 372 74 60