For Immediate Release

Symyx Commences Initial Public Offering of Common Stock

Nov. 17, 1999

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)-- Symyx Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:SMMX) today announced an initial public offering of 5,538,000 shares of its Common Stock at an initial public offering price of $14 per share.

The Company has also granted the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 830,700 shares at the public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any. The underwriting is being managed by Credit Suisse First Boston, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Invemed Associates and Schroder & Co. Inc.

Symyx develops and applies combinatorial technologies to the discovery of materials for the electronics and chemical industries, through research collaborations and technology access, as well as for its own proprietary programs. Symyx was founded by Dr. Alejandro C. Zaffaroni, founder of ALZA Corporation, DNAX Research Institute, Affymax N.V. and Affymetrix, and Dr. Peter G. Schultz, head of the Novartis Institute for Functional Genomics and professor of chemistry at the Scripps Research Institute.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any state or jurisdiction.

A final prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from Credit Suisse First Boston, 11 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010, Attn: Prospectus Department, tel: 212/325-2580, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, 277 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10172, Attn: Prospectus Department, tel: 212/892-4530, Invemed Associates, 375 Park Avenue, Suite 2205, New York, New York, 10152-0189, tel.: 212/421-2500, or Schroder & Co. Inc., Equitable Center, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York, 10019-6016, tel.: 212/492-6000.

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