News

Senomyx Submits FEMA GRAS Applications for Savory Enhancers

LA JOLLA, CA, December 20, 2004 - Senomyx, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNMX), today announced the submission of applications for review of their savory enhancers, S336 and S807, to the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) for Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) determination under the provisions of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, administered by the United States Food and Drug Administration. In 1960, FEMA established the FEMA Expert Panel as an independent group of scientific experts to review the safety of flavoring substances and ensure that such substances added to foods are safe for their intended use. Based on the conclusions of the Expert Panel, FEMA GRAS flavoring substances are accepted as safe food ingredients in the United States and many countries around the world. The Expert Panel has operated continuously since it was first appointed in 1960 and has determined more than two thousand substances are GRAS.

"We're pleased that our savory enhancer product candidates have advanced to the regulatory review stage with the submission of our FEMA GRAS applications," commented Kent Snyder, President and CEO of Senomyx. "This is a critical milestone for Senomyx since it represents an important step towards commercialization. Our savory enhancers function as both a savory flavor and an enhancer of savory taste and, therefore, may eliminate the need for added monosodium glutamate (MSG) in packaged foods and beverages. We anticipate receiving the results of the FEMA Expert Panel review during the first half of 2005," added Snyder.

About Senomyx

Senomyx is a biotechnology company using proprietary taste receptor-based assays, screening technologies, and optimization chemistry to discover and develop novel flavor enhancers and taste modulators for the packaged food and beverage industry. Senomyx has entered into product discovery and development collaborations with four of the world's leading packaged food and beverage companies: Campbell Soup Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Kraft Foods Global, Inc. and Nestlé SA. Senomyx's current programs focus on the development of flavor enhancers and taste modulators in four taste areas, including savory, sweet, salt and bitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the anticipated timing for receipt of the results from the FEMA Expert Panel for the Company's savory enhancers; the progress and capabilities of Senomyx's discovery and development programs; the benefits to be derived from relationships with Senomyx's product discovery and development collaborators, technology collaborators and licensors and Senomyx's ability to enter into and maintain these relationships; Senomyx's ability, or Senomyx's collaborators' ability, to successfully satisfy all pertinent regulatory requirements and commercialize products incorporating Senomyx's flavor enhancers and taste modulators and Senomyx's savory enhancers' ability to reduce or eliminate the need for added MSG in packaged foods and beverages; the continued funding of Senomyx discovery and development programs by its collaborators; Senomyx's ability to strengthen discovery and development capabilities. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: Senomyx is dependent on its product discovery and development collaborators for all of Senomyx's revenue; Senomyx is dependent on its current and any future product discovery and development collaborators to develop and commercialize any flavor enhancers or taste modulators Senomyx may discover; Senomyx may be unable to develop flavor enhancers or taste modulators useful for formulation into products; Senomyx or its collaborators may be unable to obtain and maintain the GRAS determination or regulatory approval required for flavor enhancers or taste modulators to be incorporated into products that are sold; even if Senomyx or its collaborators receive a GRAS determination or regulatory approval and incorporate Senomyx flavor enhancers or taste modulators into products, those products may never be commercially successful; and Senomyx's ability to compete in the flavor and flavor enhancer market may decline if Senomyx does not adequately protect its proprietary technologies. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Senomyx's most recently filed SEC documents, including its Prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 22, 2004 and its 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2004, under the headings "Risks Related to Our Business" and "Risks Related to Our Industry." All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Senomyx undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Contacts:

Finance		Investor Relations
John Poyhonen		Susan Neath
Vice President, CFO and CBO		Atkins + Associates
Senomyx, Inc.		858-527-3486
858-646-8302		sneath@irpr.com