Applied Biosystems Announces Worldwide Commercial Availability of the Expression Array System.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 5, 2004

System Provides the Most Comprehensive Representation of the

Human Genome; Test Site Customers Report System Can Detect

a Greater Number of Genes with Higher Sensitivity and

Specificity than Other Microarray Technologies

Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, today announced the worldwide commercial availability of the Applied Biosystems Expression Array System. The product combines highly sensitive gene detection capabilities with easy integration to Applied Biosystems industry-leading, complementary gene expression products, such as its TaqMan(R) Gene Expression Assays, TaqMan(R) Low Density Array, Celera Discovery System(TM) (CDS), and real-time PCR systems. Together, these systems provide a comprehensive and streamlined solution for studies of human gene expression.

Twelve institutions recently completed the final testing of the system, including the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States and Human Genetic Signatures Pty Ltd., Sydney, Australia.

"We are using the Expression Array System to study gene expression in brain tumors and the effect of pharmaceutical therapy on reversing abnormal expression. The quality of the data generated using the system has been outstanding and highly superior in terms of sensitivity and accuracy when compared with the cDNA microarrays we were previously using," said Greg Foltz, M.D., Assistant Professor, Departments of Neurological Surgery and Neurology, University of Iowa. "We decided to convert to this system for our gene expression work based on Applied Biosystems' history of technical leadership and high quality support, and our experience thus far has been excellent. In addition to the superior quality that we are seeing, we have found the system to be completely reliable and very easy to use."

"Human Genetic Signatures selected the Expression Array System over other previously used commercial microarray products, owing to its superb data reproducibility and user-friendly, annotated bioinformatics capabilities," said George Miklos, Ph.D., Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Human Genetic Signatures. "We have experienced, first hand, the levels of variation produced by other microarray platforms and the difficulties of de-convoluting the associated bioinformatics problems that are particularly acute in our field of methylomics. This new microarray system addresses these serious challenges and allows us to integrate our advanced bisulphite and Intercalating Nucleic Acid (INA) technologies with gene expression profiles and the personalized methylation signatures of human adult stem cells in aging, cancer, and in cellular therapeutics."

"Until now, the process of studying gene expression, from whole-genome analysis to gene quantification and single-gene analysis, has required multiple technologies that have not been coordinated or supported in an integrated workflow," said Michael W. Hunkapiller, Ph.D., President of Applied Biosystems. "The Expression Array System not only includes improvements to address the limitations of existing commercial and homebrew technologies, but also makes the transition from global expression profiling on microarrays to the examination of a more focused set of candidate genes more efficient and productive for researchers involved in basic research, drug target validation, and pre-clinical drug development."

"Gene expression analysis is a large and fast-growing application within molecular biology research and pharmaceutical development," said Catherine M. Burzik, Executive Vice President of Applied Biosystems. "We believe this system will be attractive to researchers who are interested in obtaining the highest sensitivity and specificity with access to hand curated and highly comprehensive annotation of the human genome. Additionally, our entry into the expression microarray market is an excellent complement to our gold-standard TaqMan(R)-based products for quantitative gene expression. Together, these products should enable our customers to develop more integrated workflows in line with our integrated science, or iScience(TM), business strategy."

Well-defined and longer probe lengths coupled with chemiluminescent technology and highly porous nylon membranes result in the following advantages of the Applied Biosystems Expression Array System:

-- More genes detected. The Expression Array System detects up to

40% more genes when compared to conventional fluorescent

microarrays.

-- Lower limit of detection. The system achieves more than a

10-fold increase in sensitivity for the detection of low

expressed genes.

-- Less sample required. High quality data can be obtained with

the Applied Biosystems Expression Array System from as low as

500ng of total RNA starting material with the potential to use

smaller sample amounts depending on applications performed.

Additional advantages include:

-- Annotation. Every human transcript sequence was either hand

curated or experimentally validated at Applied Biosystems.

Each probe is a part of a relational database that includes

both Celera Genomics annotations and those in the public

domain. The database includes, for example, gene acronyms,

gene names, cross-references for gene identification, public

(GO) and Celera (Panther(TM)) gene ontologies, and other

relevant information.

-- Integrated Science. Microarray results can be linked to the

Celera Discovery System(TM), where the precise location of

each microarray probe is graphically aligned to the extensive

annotative information found within CDS. The gene

identification information supplied with the Expression Array

System database also allows access to the more than 22,000

validated, quantitative, TaqMan(R) Gene Expression Assays to

facilitate validation of microarray results, absolute

quantification of transcripts, and investigation of

alternative splicing.

-- Other species. Customers have completed final testing of the

soon to be released Mouse Genome Survey Microarray. The Rat

Genome Survey Microarray is expected to be released later in

calendar year 2004.

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 $1.7 billion during fiscal 2003. 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 by Applied Biosystems, 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) ability to integrate the Applied Biosystems Expression Array System with other Applied Biosystems products and services; (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) market adoption of the technology; (6) claims for patent infringement; and; and (7) 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.

Copyright(C) 2004. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved. ABI PRISM and Applied Biosystems are registered trademarks and AB (Design), Applera, Assays-on-Demand, Celera, Celera Diagnostics, Celera Discovery System, Celera Genomics, and Panther 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.