Agilent Technologies Teams with Battelle Memorial Institute to Develop Artificial Neural Network Technology for Protein Research.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2003

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today announced a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Battelle Memorial Institute, the operating and management contractor for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) located in Richland, Wash.

The objective of the agreement is to further development of an artificial neural network technology for protein identification that was developed at PNNL, and adapt it to Agilent liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer (LC/MS) systems. The work is expected to ultimately provide protein researchers with a method of protein identification that increases statistical confidence.

Protein identification is frequently accomplished by chemically digesting (fragmenting) proteins and then using LC/MS technology to separate and analyze the resulting peptide fragments. The PNNL-developed breakthrough technology uses artificial neural networks to predict how long it takes individual peptides to emerge, or elute, from the liquid chromatograph. This predictive power greatly increases confidence in the LC/MS identification of the peptides and original proteins. Tests conducted in the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a DOE scientific user facility located at PNNL, have shown the predicted retention times match actual retention times to within approximately 3 percent.

"The elution prediction model adds another significant metric to peptide identification which can increase accuracy or alternatively, reduce the need for high-mass measurement accuracy in mass spectrometry proteomics," said Dr. Richard Smith, laboratory fellow at PNNL. "We are excited about the prospect of further developing and demonstrating the method on the standardized commercial LC/MS platform to be supplied by Agilent through the CRADA."

The CRADA provides for the further development and demonstration of the PNNL-developed technology on LC/MS systems, supplied to PNNL by Agilent. PNNL plans to use funding provided by the DOE's Office of Science, Life Sciences Division to demonstrate the peptide retention time capability on Agilent's instruments. Under the CRADA, Agilent has the option to negotiate an exclusive license for the patent-pending, Battelle-owned background intellectual property, and any inventions that may arise under the CRADA.

"PNNL's elution prediction model is well-matched to the outstanding stability of the Agilent 1100 Series LC," said Dr. John Michnowicz, LC/MS marketing manager for Agilent Technologies. "We look forward to the chance to make this promising technology available to proteomics researchers."

Information about Agilent's life science products and services is available at www.agilent.com/chem.

About Battelle and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is a Department of Energy Office of Science research facility that advances the fundamental understanding of complex systems, and provides science-based solutions to some of the nation's most pressing challenges in national security, energy and environmental quality. The laboratory employs more than 3,800 scientists, engineers, technicians and support staff, and has an annual budget of nearly $600 million. Battelle, based in Columbus, Ohio, has operated PNNL for the federal government since the Lab's inception in 1965.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 32,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $6 billion in fiscal year 2002. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, statements relating to Agilent's ability to further develop Battelle's artificial neural network technology used for protein identification, and adapt it to Agilent liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer (LC/MS) systems; the expectation that the work could ultimately provide protein researchers with a method of protein identification that increases statistical confidence; and Agilent's ability to make artificial neural network technology available to proteomics researchers) that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from management's current expectations. These and other risks are detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Oct. 31, 2002, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Apr. 30, 2003 and its Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 19, 2003. The company assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release.

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