Applied Biosystems Announces Settlement Agreement of Qui Tam Litigation Brought by Promega.

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The release reads:

APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT OF QUI TAM LITIGATION BROUGHT BY PROMEGA

Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, today announced that it has settled its qui tam litigation with Promega Corporation, originally initiated by Promega against Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc. and Applera in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in 2000. Following the district court's dismissal of Promega's Amended Complaint with prejudice on September 29, 2004, Promega filed an appeal and Applera filed an appeal on its claim for its costs in the matter. Pursuant to the agreed settlement, those actions have been withdrawn, and no other consideration is being exchanged by the parties.

As a result of this settlement, Promega is now enabled to negotiate a license to Roche's patent portfolio for manufacturing, using and selling polymerase enzymes for PCR purposes with Applied Biosystems, the sole licensor of Roche patents covering reagents and methods for practicing PCR and real-time PCR in the life science research and applied fields.

"We are happy to have this litigation, together with its associated costs and distractions, behind us," said Catherine Burzik, President of Applied Biosystems.

About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems

Applera Corporation consists of two operating groups. The Applied Biosystems Group serves the life science industry and research community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services. 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 nearly $1.8 billion during fiscal 2005. The Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA) is engaged principally in the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics for cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Celera Genomics is leveraging its proteomic, bioinformatic, and genomic capabilities to identify and validate drug targets, and to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics. It is also seeking to advance therapeutic antibody and selected small molecule drug programs in collaboration with global technology and market leaders. Celera Diagnostics, a 50/50 joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of 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/. 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 unless required by law.

Copyright(C) 2005. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved. Applied Biosystems is a registered trademark and Applera, Celera, Celera Diagnostics, and Celera Genomics are trademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or certain other countries.