Applied Biosystems Enhances the QSTAR LC/MS/MS System With Improved Performance and Increased Mass Range.

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FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 3, 2002

Advances in High Throughput, High Sensitivity

Protein Identification System

Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, together with its partner MDS SCIEX, today introduced the latest addition to Applied Biosystems' quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry series, the QSTAR(R) XL LC/MS/MS System. The QSTAR(R) XL system is designed to provide improved sensitivity and resolution to proteomics researchers as well as improved sensitivity and mass accuracy to pharmaceutical drug discovery researchers seeking to identify and characterize low level drug and metabolite concentrations in biological samples positively. Data from the QSTAR(R) XL system will be presented this week at The 5th Siena Meeting: From Genome to Proteome: Functional Proteomics, Sept. 2-5, Siena, Italy.

"The QSTAR(R) XL system is designed for protein identification and characterization and drug metabolism studies, generating high-quality mass spectrometry data from both API (atmospheric pressure ionization) and MALDI (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization) techniques," said Laura C. Lauman, Vice President, Discovery Proteomics and Small Molecules for Applied Biosystems. "The unique flexibility to switch between the standard API, NanoSpray(TM), and the new oMALDI(TM) ion source makes the QSTAR(R) system an excellent tool for proteomics researchers."

New Features

High mass ion transmission properties have been significantly improved in this new generation QSTAR(R) system. This provides proteomic researchers with extended capabilities for analyzing larger intact proteins and allows for superior sequence analysis of large peptides. Proteomic researchers frequently require greater sensitivity to analyze low abundance proteins from their complex samples. Enhanced ion optics and a new detector, along with a novel scan function similar to one available on the Q TRAP(R) system, improve detection limits of peptides and proteins from complex proteomic samples. As an added benefit, the improved ion optics in the QSTAR(R) XL system increase the reliability and uptime of the system, a crucial requirement for demanding proteomic and drug discovery laboratories.

With the new oMALDI(TM) 2 ion source, researchers can rapidly and easily obtain high quality MS and MS/MS data with all the benefits of MALDI ionization. The oMALDI(TM) 2 ion source permits the determination of peptide molecular weights from a wide variety of matrices without fragmentation. This allows peptide mass fingerprinting experiments to include peptides with important fragile post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation and glycosylation. Sequence information can then be obtained with MS/MS analysis, facilitating more accurate identification and characterization of peptides and proteins.

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, leading to the development of new pharmaceuticals and to conduct standardized testing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, Calif., and reported sales of $1.6 billion during fiscal 2002. The Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA), located in Rockville, Md. and South San Francisco, Calif., is engaged principally in integrating advanced technologies to discover and develop new therapeutics. Celera intends to leverage its genomic and proteomic technology platforms to identify drug targets and diagnostic marker candidates and to discover novel therapeutics. Its Celera Discovery System(TM) online platform, marketed exclusively through the Knowledge Business of 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 diagnostics tests. Information about Applera Corporation, including reports and other information filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.applera.com/, or by telephoning 800/762-6923. Information about Applied Biosystems is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.appliedbiosystems.com/.

About MDS Sciex and MDS Inc.

MDS Sciex is the analytical instrumentation division of MDS Inc. (NYSE:MDZ) (TSX:MDS). MDS Inc. is an international health and life sciences company with revenues of $1.6 billion (Canadian) in 2001. Its products and services include: laboratory testing, imaging agents for nuclear medicine testing, sterilization systems for medical and consumer products, research and clinical development services for planning and delivery of cancer treatment, analytical instruments to assist in the development of new drugs, and medical/surgical supplies. MDS employs more than 10,000 highly skilled people at its global operations on four continents. Detailed information about the company is available at the MDS Web site at http://www.mdsintl.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," 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 development of new products; (2) future growth strategy; 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.

Applied Biosystems is a registered trademark and API 2000, API 3000, API 4000, Applera, Celera, Celera Diagnostics, Celera Genomics are trademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and certain other countries.

QSTAR and Q TRAP are trademarks of Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX Instruments, which is a joint venture between Applera Corporation and MDS Inc.