Leading Genomic Research Firm Chooses Delaware as Location for New East Coast Facility Newark, DE, and Palo Alto, CA, March 4, 2002 – Delaware state officials announced today that Incyte Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: INCY), headquartered in Palo Alto, California, has signed a lease agreement with DuPont to locate its first East Coast biotechnology research operation in the Stine-Haskell Research Center in Newark, Delaware. Incyte plans to occupy the space in March 2002. The opening of the new operation is expected to create over 80 jobs this year, the majority of which are research and development positions. Incyte is expected to employ more than 140 within two years and nearly 200 by 2005. Governor Ruth Ann Minner said, "I am very honored that Incyte has selected our state for its first East Coast location focused on therapeutic discovery and development. Our success in attracting Incyte to Delaware is part of my administration's overall strategy to build and strengthen Delaware's offerings as a hub for biotechnology. I am also pleased that DuPont is a partner with the state in finding an ideal location for Incyte." Incyte Genomics, Inc., based in Palo Alto, Calif., has previously announced that it is moving aggressively towards becoming a therapeutic discovery and development company. In addition, Incyte is a leading provider of genomic technologies and products to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries to aid in improved diagnosis and treatment of disease. Incyte has the largest number of commercial patents in the United States covering human full-length genes and the proteins they encode. "The decision to locate a facility in Delaware has been reinforced by the cooperation we have received from the State of Delaware and the availability of modern research facilities that we could quickly occupy," said Paul A. Friedman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Incyte. "In addition, Delaware's growing biotechnology community, access to respected academic centers and favorable housing and education conditions, will help us to attract talented personnel." Incyte will initially lease up to 50,000 square feet of the Stine-Haskell Research Center, a DuPont site, located on Elkton Road. Stacey Mobley, DuPont Senior Vice President and Chairman of Governor Minner's Strategic Economic Council, said, "In order for Delaware to remain economically healthy, the state needs to attract new industry, as well as grow the businesses that are already here. We welcome Incyte to the Delaware business community." The Delaware Economic Development Office began discussions with Incyte in September as the company began to consider sites in the mid-Atlantic region for its East Coast laboratories. John D. Wik, Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office, said, "Incyte needed to occupy lab space by early spring, so time was of the essence. Thanks to the steadfast cooperation of the DuPont Company, Delaware's biotechnology community, and our congressional delegation, the State was able to meet Incyte's needs." About Incyte Genomics Incyte Genomics, Inc. has the largest commercial portfolio of issued United States patents covering human, full-length genes and the proteins they encode and is leveraging its leading intellectual property and genomic information position to be a leader in therapeutic small molecule, secreted protein and antibody discoveries. In addition, Incyte has also developed the leading integrated platform of genomic technologies designed to aid in the understanding of the molecular basis of disease. Incyte develops and markets genomic databases and licenses pharmaceutically relevant intellectual property. These offerings facilitate pharmaceutical and biotechnology researchers in their 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 website at www.incyte.com. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including without limitation statements as to the anticipated growth of Incyte's East Coast Operations, the ability of Incyte to attract talented personnel to assist in its drug discovery efforts, the ability of Incyte's products and services to enhance the research efforts of its customers and Incyte's ability to leverage its intellectual property position to become a leader in therapeutic discoveries, 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 impact of competition and alternative technologies, processes and approaches; Incyte's ability to compete against competitors that may have greater financial or other resources; changes in consumer demand for Incyte's products and services; changes in Incyte's business plan; Incyte's ability to obtain patent protection for its discoveries and to continue to be effective in expanding its patent coverage, defending its patent positions and growing its intellectual property portfolio, and other risks detailed from time to time in Incyte's SEC reports, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001. Incyte disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.