Applied Biosystems and HTS Biosystems Enter Alliance to Develop Key Technology for Functional Proteomics.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

FOSTER CITY, Calif. & HOPKINTON, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--April 29, 2002

Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, and HTS Biosystems Inc., a privately-held company, today announced they have entered into a licensing and supply agreement to develop and commercialize a functional proteomics system based on HTS Biosystems' high throughput affinity screening technology. Applied Biosystems holds a minority equity position in HTS Biosystems; additional financial terms were not disclosed.

Under the new collaboration, the parties plan to further develop and commercialize HTS Biosystems' FLEX CHIP(TM) System -- a next generation surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology that permits high throughput analysis of protein interactions in a more cost-effective and streamlined manner than existing technologies. The affinity, or tightness, of protein binding is an important characteristic affecting protein function. The FLEX CHIP(TM) System is a highly flexible, label-free detection platform for parallel kinetic analysis of binding events, and is expected to be the first instrument on the market to provide high-throughput binding kinetics. In response to interest in the proteomics market, HTS Biosystems recently placed early access versions of the system with key collaborators.

"This technology could give Applied Biosystems a rapid entry into a new, high-growth market in functional proteomics, and is expected to be an important addition to our broad line of proteomics analysis products for research and human therapeutic discovery," said Lauren M. Linton, Ph.D., vice president, applications marketing and research & development for Applied Biosystems. "Collaboration on this important technology tool is intended to capitalize on Applied Biosystems' expertise in instrument systems and reagent development, manufacturing, and marketing, and HTS Biosystems' proprietary SPR technology and system integration."

"Applied Biosystems is known for its ability to predict the driving technologies of the future," said Enrico Picozza, chief operating officer and co-founder of HTS Biosystems. "We are pleased to have joined Applied Biosystems to bring our FLEX CHIP(TM) System to market, and believe that this collaboration could serve not only to accelerate commercialization of our SPR technology, but also could facilitate continued development of complementary technology solutions."

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 2001. The Celera Genomics Group, 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, to be 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 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 www.applera.com, or by telephoning 800/762-6923. Information about Applied Biosystems is available on the World Wide Web at 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 "expect," "believe," "plan" and "intend," 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) claims for patent infringement; (3) and other factors that might be described from time to time in Applera Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About HTS Biosystems, Inc.

HTS Biosystems, Inc. is a privately-held biotechnology company specializing in high-throughput bioanalytical systems for the rapidly growing field of proteomics. HTS Biosystems offers a unique portfolio of innovative technologies that support all phases of proteomics, from discovery to development of therapeutic and diagnostic products. The company's technology platform -- the Proteomatrix(TM) Solution -- streamlines the discovery process and captures fixed costs for more effective use of protein data in target screening, validation, and discovery efforts. Collaborations with key industry partners, such as Applied Biosystems, Dyax Corporation, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation , and Molsoft LLC have driven the development of the company's technology platform and related systems, including the FLEX CHIP(TM) System, the CHEMI FLEX(TM) System, and the PHASE FLEX(TM) System for target discovery, screening and validation. HTS Biosystems' operations are located in Hopkinton, MA. For more information, visit www.htsbiosystems.com.

Note to Editors: 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 certain other countries.