EXHIBIT 99.1
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Contact: Matthew M. Loar
         Chief Financial Officer
         650-562-1424

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
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          Genelabs Implements Previously Announced Reverse Stock Split

Redwood City, Calif. - December 19, 2005 - Genelabs Technologies, Inc.
(Nasdaq:GNLB; GNLBD) said today that its previously announced one-for-five
reverse split of the company's common stock has become effective, with
post-split trading expected to begin when the Nasdaq Capital Market opens for
trading this morning.

For a period of 20 trading days beginning with the effectiveness of the reverse
split, Genelabs' common stock will trade on a post-split basis under the trading
symbol "GNLBD" as an interim symbol to denote its new status. After this interim
period, Genelabs' common stock will resume trading under the symbol "GNLB."

The reverse split was approved by the company's shareholders at the company's
annual shareholder meeting on June 14, 2005. Pursuant to this authorization, on
December 5, 2005, Genelabs' board of directors approved the implementation of
the reverse split. The reverse split is intended to broaden Genelabs' investor
base and help the company regain compliance with Nasdaq's $1.00 minimum bid
price listing requirement by increasing the share price and decreasing the
number of shares, warrants and options outstanding.

Immediately prior to the reverse split, Genelabs had 88,868,865 shares of common
stock issued and outstanding. After the effectiveness of the reverse split,
there are approximately 17,773,773 shares of common stock issued and
outstanding.

About Genelabs
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Genelabs Technologies, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the
discovery and development of pharmaceutical products to improve human health. We
have built drug discovery capabilities that can support various research and
development projects. Genelabs is currently concentrating these capabilities on
discovering novel compounds that selectively inhibit replication of the
hepatitis C virus and advancing preclinical development of compounds from this
hepatitis C virus drug discovery program, while also developing a late-stage
product for lupus. We believe that these high-risk, potentially high reward
programs focus our research and development expertise in areas where we have the
opportunity to generate either first-in-class or best-in-class products that
will address diseases for which current therapies are inadequate. For more
information, please visit www.genelabs.com.

Note: Genelabs(R) and the Genelabs logo are registered trademarks and
Prestara(TM) is a trademark of Genelabs Technologies, Inc.

NOTE ON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISKS: This press release contains
forward-looking statements including statements regarding the timing of the
effectiveness of the reverse split of Genelabs' common stock and the trading
price of Genelabs common stock after the reverse split is implemented. These
forward-looking statements are based on Genelabs' current expectations and are
subject to uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the statements made. Uncertainties and risks include, without
limitation, fluctuations in Genelabs' stock price; events which reduce Genelabs'
future prospects, problems in initiating manufacturing or IND-enabling studies;
failures or setbacks in our HCV research programs or in our collaboration with
Gilead; progress and announcements by competitors regarding their HCV programs;
regulatory problems or delays regarding Prestara(TM), including an adverse
response from the FDA or a determination to discontinue development of Prestara;
increases in expenses and Genelabs' capital requirements and history of
operating losses. Please see the information appearing in Genelabs' filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report
on Form 10-K, under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements"
for more discussion regarding these uncertainties and risks and others
associated with the company's research programs, early stage of development and
other risks which may affect the company or cause actual results to differ from
those included in the forward-looking statements. Genelabs does not undertake
any obligation to update these forward-looking statements or risks to reflect
events or circumstances after the date of this release.