Semi-Annual Changes to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index

NEW YORK, May 12  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. ("NASDAQ(R)") (NASDAQ:NDAQ) announced today the results of the semi-annual re-ranking of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index(R) (NASDAQ:NBI), which will become effective with the market open on Monday, May 22, 2006.

The re-ranking will result in 15 securities being added to the Index. All securities are classified according to the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB) as either biotechnology or pharmaceutical. The securities that meet the classification criteria then must meet other Index eligibility criteria including listing on the NASDAQ National Market(R) and meeting minimum requirements for market value, average daily share volume and seasoning as a public company. The Index is ranked on a semi-annual basis in May and November. For more information about the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, including eligibility criteria, visit http://www.nasdaq.com/.

As a result of the re-ranking, Accelrys, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACCL), Affymetrix, Inc. (NASDAQ:AFFX), BioVeris Corporation (NASDAQ:BIOV), Biosite, Inc. (NASDAQ:BSTE), Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:CALP), Luminex Corporation (NASDAQ:LMNX), Martek Biosciences Corporation (NASDAQ:MATK), PAREXEL International Corporation (NASDAQ:PRXL), SFBC International, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFCC), will be removed from the Index due to a change in their classification by ICB.

The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index is the basis for the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index(SM) Fund (AMEX:IBB), which seeks investment results that generally correspond to the price and yield performance of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index before fees and expenses. In addition, options based on the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index and the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology Index Fund trade on various exchanges.

NASDAQ is the largest U.S. electronic stock market. With approximately 3,200 companies, it lists more companies and, on average, trades more shares per day than any other U.S. market. It is home to companies that are leaders across all areas of business including technology, retail, communications, financial services, transportation, media and biotechnology. NASDAQ is the primary market for trading NASDAQ-listed stocks. For more information about NASDAQ, visit the NASDAQ Web site at http://www.nasdaq.com/ or the NASDAQ Newsroom at http://www.nasdaq.com/newsroom/.

The Industry Classification Benchmark ("ICB") is jointly owned by FTSE International Limited ("FTSE") and Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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"Dow Jones" and "DJ" are trademarks of Dow Jones & Company Inc.

iShares are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co.  Barclays Global Fund Advisors serves as an advisor to iShares and is a subsidiary of Barclays Global Investors, N.A., neither of which is affiliated with SEI.  For a prospectus, call 1-800-iSHARES (1-800-474-2737).

  IShares are not FDIC Insured.
  Have No Bank Guarantee.
  May Lose Value.

  Company Briefs



ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecule drugs for the treatment of central nervous system disorders.

Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARXT) is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the late-stage development, commercialization and marketing of over-the-counter, or OTC and prescription pharmaceuticals for the treatment of respiratory disorders.

Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NASDAQ:ASPV) identifies, develops, and commercializes new indications for approved drugs and drug candidates for underserved patient populations.

AVI BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVII) is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes products principally based on third-generation NEUGENE antisense technology. The Company's products in development target life-threatening diseases, including cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, and cancer.

Columbia Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBRX) is an international pharmaceutical company that develops and markets women's health care and endocrinology products. The Company develops products intended to treat infertility, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, and hormonal deficiencies, primarily utilizing its Bioadhesive Delivery System Technology.

Cerus Corporation (NASDAQ:CERS) develops systems designed to enhance the safety of blood transfusions. The Company's systems inactivate pathogens in blood components and inactivate white blood cells, which are responsible for a variety of adverse transfusion reactions.

CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:CGPI) is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and marketing innovative pharmaceutical products for the dermatology market.

Genomic Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:GHDX) is a life science company focused on the development and commercialization of genomic-based clinical diagnostic tests for cancer. The Company's tests allow physicians and patients to make individualized treatment decisions.

GTx, Inc. (NASDAQ:GTXI) discovers, and commercializes therapeutics primarily related to the treatment of serious men's health conditions. The Company's drug discovery and development programs are focused on small molecules that selectively modulate the effects of estrogens and androgens, two essential classes of hormones.

Inhibitex, Inc. (NASDAQ:INHX) is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes novel antibody-based products. The Company develops products for the prevention and treatment of serious bacterial and fungal infections in the hospital setting.

Matrixx Initiatives Inc. (NASDAQ:MTXX) Matrixx Initiatives, Inc. is engaged in the development, manufacture and marketing of over-the-counter healthcare products that utilize innovative drug delivery systems.

New River Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:NRPH) is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing safer and improved versions of widely- prescribed drugs in large and growing markets.

Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ:NVAX) a biopharmaceutical company, researches and develops proprietary topical and oral drug delivery technologies.

Solexa, Inc. (NASDAQ:SLXA) is developing a method of gene tic analysis based on sequencing-by-synthesis and molecular arrays. The Company intends to offer different types of genetic analysis, including DNA sequencing, gene expression, genotyping, and micro-RNA analysis.

Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:THLD) is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecule therapeutics based on Metabolic Targeting, an approach that targets fundamental differences in metabolism between normal and certain diseased cells. 

DATASOURCE: NASDAQ



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