Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen Corporation Form Strategic Alliance to Deliver Advanced Proteomic Solutions for Biomarker Discovery and Validation.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. & SAN DIEGO -- Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, and Invitrogen Corporation (NASDAQ:IVGN) today announced a strategic co-marketing and re-selling alliance to deliver solutions for proteomic analyses and biomarker studies in drug discovery and disease research worldwide.

Under the terms of the alliance, Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen will re-sell a combined suite of labeling technologies consisting of Applied Biosystems' proprietary suite of protein and peptide labeling technologies -- iTRAQ(TM) and ICAT(R) reagents -- and Invitrogen's newly launched SILAC(TM) metabolomic labeling technology. Applied Biosystems will also provide software support for SILAC on its TOF/TOF(TM) family of products, including the newly launched 4800 MALDI TOF/TOF(TM) Analyzer, and plans to extend software support for the SILAC labeling technology to other Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX protein mass spectrometry systems. Together, these technologies and products can provide biological insights from comparing relative protein expression levels between diseased and normal samples ranging from cell culture lines to tissues and serum.

"The alliance with Invitrogen brings together the capabilities of two leaders in their respective fields to deliver improved solutions for proteomics and enable biologists to further elucidate cellular pathways that are implicated in disease. We believe that this alliance will expand the use of our mass spectrometry labeling reagents within the biologist community," said Catherine M. Burzik, President of Applied Biosystems. "The alliance provides great potential to develop, market, and sell additional reagent products optimized on Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX mass spectrometry systems."

"Invitrogen's new product line of proteomics kits and reagents are enabling advanced workflows and improving quantitative results. Additionally, Applied Biosystems' expertise in mass spectrometry and labeling chemistries will facilitate our ability to introduce this exciting technology to a broader market," said Gregory T. Lucier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Invitrogen Corporation. "By aligning Invitrogen with Applied Biosystems' market-leading mass spectrometry and labeling chemistry development, we can offer scientists a suite of convenient, compatible products to accelerate the advancement of proteomics."

The ICAT(R) reagents, introduced in 2001, represented the first quantitative labeling strategy for protein expression analysis using LC/MS approaches (ESI and MALDI) with a specific focus on quantifying only proteins that contained the amino acid cysteine. Using the iTRAQ(TM) reagents, researchers can label all peptides, leading to broader protein and proteome coverage with the ability to detect post-translational modifications, and to simultaneously measure expression profiles of up to four samples, such as normal versus diseased versus drug-treated states in a single experiment. These reagents simplify the performance of proteomics experiments, such as time course studies or expression profiling studies for putative biomarkers.

Invitrogen's SILAC(TM) technology provides a tool for quantitative analysis of differential protein expression. SILAC(TM) technology empowers current cell culture workflows with seamless integration with rigorous analytical platforms. The result is a new paradigm in proteomic and cellular dysfunction analysis. Researchers can view metabolic changes in different cell lines to compare normal versus diseased versus drug-treated.

SILAC technology and ICAT reagents are both protein labeling strategies compatible with 1D gel separation, which is the primary workflow for biologists. SILAC technology is used for differential protein expression analysis in cell culture samples and ICAT reagent-technology in tissue samples. iTRAQ reagents is a universal peptide based labeling approach for multiplex sample analysis.

Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX is a joint venture between Applied Biosystems and MDS Sciex, a division of MDS Inc. (NYSE:MDZ)(TSX:MDS) that develops mass spectrometry systems for life science research, drug discovery and development, protein biomarker research, quality and safety testing, and forensic analysis.

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 2004. 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/.

Applied Biosystems Forward Looking Statement

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 and customer acceptance of new products; (2) claims for patent infringement; and (3) 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.

About Invitrogen

Invitrogen Corporation (Nasdaq:IVGN) provides products and services that support academic and government research institutions and pharmaceutical and biotech companies worldwide in their efforts to improve the human condition. The company provides essential life science technologies for disease research, drug discovery and commercial bio-production. Invitrogen's own research and development efforts are focused on breakthrough innovation in all major areas of biological discovery, including functional genomics, proteomics, bio-informatics and cell biology, placing Invitrogen's products in nearly every major laboratory in the world. Founded in 1987, Invitrogen is headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., and conducts business in more than 70 countries around the world. The company globally employs approximately 4500 scientists and other professionals, and had revenues in excess of $1 billion in 2004. Information about Invitrogen is available on the Web at www.invitrogen.com.

Invitrogen Forward-Looking Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is Invitrogen's intent that such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: 1) Invitrogen's product lines and Applied Biosystems' expertise in mass spectrometry will facilitate the ability to introduce the technology to a broader market; 2) Invitrogen and Applied Biosystems will re-sell a suite of their combined technologies that will include SILAC technology Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks: a) The alliance may not drive wider adoption of mass spectrometry applications; and b) Specific technologies in the co-marketing agreement may vary, as well as other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Invitrogen's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

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

AB (design), Applera, Celera Diagnostics and iTRAQ are trademarks and Applied Biosystems and Celera are registered trademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or certain other countries.

TOF/TOF and MALDI TOF/TOF are trademarks of Applied Biosystems/MDS Sciex, a joint venture between Applera Corporation and MDS Inc.

ICAT is a trademark of the University of Washington and is exclusively licensed to the Applied Biosystems Group of Applera Corporation.

SILAC is a trademark of Invitrogen Corporation.

(C) 2005. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved.