Applied Biosystems Announces Availability of Rat Genomic Assays for Real-Time Gene Expression Analysis.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 9, 2003

Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, today announced the initial release of pre-formulated gene expression assays for researchers studying the rat, an important animal model used for disease research and safety assessment of therapeutics and chemical substances in toxicology studies. The Rat Assays-on-Demand(TM) Gene Expression Products are now available through the Applied Biosystems e-commerce Web site.

The rat genomic assays are the latest addition to the Applied Biosystems Assays-on-Demand(TM) Gene Expression Products, which also include more than 19,000 gene-specific assays for human genes, and more than 9,000 gene-specific assays for mouse genes. The initial build of rat genomic assays is expected to comprise more than 3,500 gene-specific TaqMan(R) probe and primer sets for quantitative gene expression studies on rat genes. More than 1,500 are currently available, with ongoing release of additional assays over the coming months.

"The addition of the rat genomic assays should provide researchers with an accurate, cost-effective method to study toxicological responses to certain chemical compounds in the rat genome. This is important when evaluating the potential effects of a therapeutic before it is tested in human clinical trials," said Michael W. Hunkapiller, Ph.D., President of Applied Biosystems. "These ready-to-use assays provide reproducible data, and allow researchers the ability to screen a greater number of targets more easily compared to do-it-yourself methods of designing primers and probes."

The initial release is designed around the well-characterized transcripts in the NCBI Reference Sequence project (RefSeq) database for rat genes. Applied Biosystems plans to ultimately offer assays for nearly all of the genes listed in the rat RefSeq database as well as to genes that produce drug-metabolizing enzymes. The assays were designed using Applied Biosystems' sophisticated bioinformatics pipeline and include data from both the public and Celera Genomics rat genomes. The design process yields strain-neutral rat gene expression assays by avoiding areas of known polymorphisms, or DNA sequence variations.

Online Ordering

Assays-on-Demand(TM) products can be ordered through the recently enhanced Applied Biosystems e-commerce site at http://store.appliedbiosystems.com/. This Web interface offers a choice of powerful search options that enable researchers to quickly identify the assays relevant to their research. Search options include key words, such as gene symbols, public accession numbers, classification by molecular function, and a batch identification function that allows scientists to import a file of many targets to search simultaneously. Customers are provided with Celera, NCBI, and reagent identification numbers as well as other pertinent biological information. Interested parties may browse the online catalog free of charge. New assay products will be added to the site as they become available.

Ready-to-Use Assays Available in Tube or Micro Fluidic Formats

The Rat Assays-on-Demand(TM) Gene Expression Products are available in two different formats to accommodate the size and scale of individual gene expression studies. Customers can order pre-formulated assays in a single, 2D-barcoded tube or assays that are custom configured on the Applied Biosystems 7900HT Micro Fluidic Card. The single tubes include a human readable label to simplify set-up and preparation and are contained within a 1D-barcoded 96-position rack designed to accommodate standard liquid handling robotics and fit seamlessly into automated, high-throughput laboratory processes. The single tube Assays-on-Demand(TM) products are optimized for use on the ABI PRISM(R) 7900HT, 7700, and 7000 Sequence Detection Systems.

The Applied Biosystems 7900HT Micro Fluidic Card allows high throughput, parallel analysis of gene expression patterns, and should expedite customers' target discovery programs by allowing researchers to investigate complex biological pathways more easily and cost-effectively. The Applied Biosystems 7900HT Micro Fluidic Card is a micro reaction vessel system that supports up to 10 different configuration options with 12 to 384 assays per card and is compatible with the ABI PRISM(R) 7900HT Sequence Detection System. Customers can design and order Micro Fluidic Cards online by selecting from over 3,500 gene-specific assays for rat genes and one of ten card configurations. Applied Biosystems also offers more than 18,000 gene-specific assays for human genes and more than 9,000 gene-specific assays for mouse genes in both product formats.

Both formats include a compact disc with an assay information file that includes the assay ID numbers, gene names (detector names), reporter dye, and quencher information for easy uploading into a LIMS system or sequence detection system software.

About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems

Applera Corporation comprises two operating groups. The Applied Biosystems Group develops and markets instrument-based systems, reagents, software, and contract services to the life science industry and research community. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to make scientific discoveries, develop new pharmaceuticals, and conduct standardized testing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of $1.6 billion during fiscal 2002. The Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA), located in Rockville, MD, and South San Francisco, CA, is engaged principally in integrating advanced technologies to discover and develop new therapeutics. Celera intends to leverage its proteomic, bioinformatic, and genomic capabilities to identify and validate drug targets, and to discover and develop new therapeutics. Its Celera Discovery System(TM) online platform, marketed exclusively through the Applied Biosystems Knowledge Business, is an integrated source of information based on the human genome and other biological and medical sources. Celera Diagnostics, a 50/50 joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of novel diagnostic products. Information about Applera Corporation, including reports and other information filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available at http://www.applera.com, or by telephoning 800/762-6923. Information about Applied Biosystems is available at http://www.appliedbiosystems.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "plans," and "should" among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Applera Corporation's current expectations. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, Applera Corporation notes that a variety of factors could cause actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limited to (1) rapidly changing technology and dependence on the development of new products; (2) sales dependent on customers' capital spending policies and government-sponsored research; (3) Applied Biosystems' dependence on the operation of computer hardware, software, and Internet applications and related technology; (4) unproven use of genomics information to develop or commercialize products; (5) and other factors that might be described from time to time in Applera Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Applera does not undertake any duty to update this information, including any forward-looking statements, unless required by law.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

ABI PRISM and Applied Biosystems are registered trademarks and AB (Design), Applera, Assays-on-Demand, Celera, Celera Discovery System, and Celera Genomics are trademarks of Applera Corporation and its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or certain other countries.

TaqMan is a registered trademark of Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.

The PCR process and 5' nuclease process are covered by patents owned by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.