Semi-Annual Changes to the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index

NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announced today the results of the semi-annual re-ranking of the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index® (Nasdaq:NBI), which will become effective prior to market open on Monday, November 21, 2011.

The following seven securities will be added to the Index: Amarin Corporation plc (Nasdaq:AMRN), BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:BPAX), Endocyte, Inc. (Nasdaq:ECYT), Grifols, S.A.(Nasdaq:GRFS), Oncothyreon, Inc.(Nasdaq:ONTY), SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(Nasdaq:SCLN) and Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGNT).

The Index is designed to track the performance of a set of NASDAQ listed securities that are classified as either biotechnology or pharmaceutical according to the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB). The NASDAQ Biotechnology Index is re-ranked semi-annually in May and November. For more information about the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index, including detailed eligibility criteria, visit https://indexes.nasdaqomx.com/.

As a result of the re-ranking, the following ten securities will be removed from the Index: Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALXA), Albany Molecular Research, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMRI), BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:BMTI), Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq:CYTK), Flamel Technologies S.A. (Nasdaq:FLML), Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:NABI), Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:OREX), POZEN, Inc. (Nasdaq:POZN), StemCells, Inc. (Nasdaq:STEM) and Zalicus Inc. (Nasdaq:ZLCS).

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

About NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group

NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group is engaged in the design, development, calculation, licensing, and marketing of NASDAQ OMX Indexes. NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group specializes in the development of indexes focusing on NASDAQ OMX's brand themes of innovation, technology, growth, and globalization. NASDAQ OMX Global Index Group also provides custom index services and design solutions as a third-party provider to selected financial organizations. For more information about NASDAQ OMX indexes, visit www.nasdaq.com/indexes.

About NASDAQ OMX Group

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world's largest exchange company. It delivers trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents, with approximately 3,500 listed companies. NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market, NASDAQ OMX Nordic, NASDAQ OMX Baltic, NASDAQ OMX First North, and the U.S. 144A sector. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products and exchange-traded funds. NASDAQ OMX technology supports the operations of over 70 exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more than 50 countries. NASDAQ OMX Nordic and NASDAQ OMX Baltic are not legal entities but describe the common offering from NASDAQ OMX exchanges in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information about NASDAQ OMX, visit http://www.nasdaqomx.com. Please follow NASDAQ OMX on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/nasdaqomx) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/nasdaqomx).

The ETFs set forth above are not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by NASDAQ OMX.

NASDAQ OMX MAKES NO WARRANTIES AND BEARS NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE ETFS.

Industry Classification Benchmark ("ICB") is a product of FTSE International Limited ("FTSE") and all intellectual property rights in and to ICB vest in FTSE. NASDAQ OMX has been licensed by FTSE to use ICB.  "FTSE" is a trade mark of London Stock Exchange and The Financial Times Limited and is used by FTSE under licence.  FTSE and its licensors do not accept any liability to any person for any loss or damage arising out of any error or omission in ICB.

The iShares Funds are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co. ("SEI"). BlackRock Fund Advisors ("BFA") serves as the investment advisor to the Funds. BFA is a subsidiary of BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A., neither of which is affiliated with SEI. For a prospectus, call 1-800-iSHARES (1-800-474-2737), or by viewing or downloading a prospectus at http://www.ishares.com.

IShares are not FDIC Insured.

Have No Bank Guarantee.

May Lose Value.

NDAQG

CONTACT: NASDAQ Media Contact: Wayne Lee +1.301.978.4875 Wayne.D.Lee@NASDAQOMX.Com NASDAQ Issuer and Investor Contact: Lisa Chaney +1.301.978.8281 Lisa.Chaney@NASDAQOMX.Com

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