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Sionex Corporation and Varian, Inc. Sign Exclusive Joint Product Development Agreement

WALTHAM, Mass., and PALO ALTO, Calif. - October 6, 2003 - Sionex Corporation and Varian, Inc. (Nasdaq:VARI) today announced the signing of an exclusive partnership and licensing agreement that will provide Varian, Inc. access to Sionex's microDMx™ technology for incorporation into its gas chromatography (GC) products. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Sionex's microDMx technology consists of a micro-fabricated chip that operates at atmospheric pressure and acts as a programmable chemical filter allowing specific compounds to be selected and quantitatively detected after they are ionized. Only Varian, Inc.'s GC products will offer the microDMx technology in certain markets, with its high degree of sensitivity and selectivity, to enhanced instrument capabilities.

The microDMx technology will be integrated initially into Varian, Inc.'s CP-4900 Micro-GC and also will be worked into other Varian GC products in the future. Specifically, Varian, Inc.'s agreement with Sionex pertains to several chemical analysis and life science applications, including petrochemical, environmental, forensic/toxicology/clinical, chemical, and food and beverage.

"We are excited about the opportunity of offering our customers this groundbreaking technology which will enhance the performance of our gas chromatography products," said Martin O'Donoghue, Vice President of Analytical Instruments, Varian, Inc. "This relationship demonstrates our commitment to bringing more accurate and sensitive instruments to our customers."

"We are pleased that Varian, Inc. is the first major technology company that will commercialize products containing Sionex's microDMx technology," said Tony Bashall, Sionex's Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. "This is the first important step in executing our plan of changing the paradigm of chemical and biological detection by bringing to market through our partners' detection systems on an unprecedented scale with unprecedented sensitivity with selectivity."

About Sionex Corporation
Sionex Corporation is a high technology company focused on commercializing breakthrough chemical and biological sensor chips and systems based on its proprietary microDMx™ detection technology. Sionex maintains its worldwide headquarters and laboratories in Waltham, Massachusetts, close to Boston with its commercial, technology and communications infrastructure. The Company is privately held and was founded in 2001 with patented technology exclusively licensed from The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory. Additional information about Sionex Corporation is available at www.sionex.com.

About Varian, Inc.
Varian, Inc. is a major supplier of scientific instruments, vacuum technologies, and specialized contract electronics manufacturing services. These businesses serve a broad range of life science and industrial customers worldwide. The company manufactures in 15 locations in North America, Europe, and the Pacific Rim and employs some 4,300 people. Varian, Inc. had fiscal year 2002 sales of $780 million. Additional information about Varian, Inc. is available at www.varianinc.com.

Editorial Contacts

Eric Kirleis, Sionex Corporation
(781) 457-5416
abashall@sionex.com

Agency Contact:
Doug Forsyth, Alchymia Communications for Sionex
+1 (541) 482-8744
df@alchymiacomm.com

microDMx™ is a US trademark of Sionex Corporation.