Celera Genomics Presents Preclinical Data Characterizing Its Novel Human Histone Deacetylase -HDAC- Inhibitor as a Cancer Therapeutic.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA), an Applera Corporation business, today announced that it will present preclinical data characterizing its novel histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, CRA-024781, as a cancer therapeutic at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 96th Annual Meeting, to be held April 16-20, 2005, in Anaheim, California.

A poster will be presented at the AACR meeting describing the dose-dependent inhibition of tubulin and histone acetylation and significant anti-tumor activity of HDAC inhibitor CRA-024781 in multiple in vivo tumor xenograft models. In addition, it was demonstrated that the measurement of tubulin and histone acetylation might be used to monitor the pharmacodynamic effects of CRA-024781 in vivo. These findings support the application of CRA-024781 in anti-cancer therapy.

These studies follow the first report of the crystal structure of the enzyme HDAC8 that was published by Celera Genomics in the journal Structure in July 2004. Knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of HDAC has guided synthetic activities of novel inhibitors of HDAC at Celera Genomics.

"We're pleased with the progress we've made in advancing our HDAC inhibitor through these preclinical experiments," said Robert Booth, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Celera Genomics. "Now that we have developed a better understanding of the pharmocodynamics of this compound, and barring any unforeseen obstacles, we anticipate that this compound will enter the clinic over the coming months."

Histone deacetylation is carried out by a family of related HDAC enzymes and causes changes to chromatin structure and to gene expression patterns. HDAC inhibition reverses some of these changes and can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, and in some cases, can specifically induce cancer cell death. These data have fueled the design of small-molecule inhibitors of HDAC that are currently undergoing testing as potential treatments for major human diseases, including cancer.

About Celera Genomics and Applera Corporation

Applera Corporation consists of two operating groups. The Celera Genomics Group 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. The Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI) 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. 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 www.applera.com, or by telephoning 800.762.6923. Information about Celera Genomics is available at www.celera.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release, including the Outlook sections, are forward-looking. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "should," and "planned," 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 risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: (1) Celera Genomics' unproven ability to discover, develop, or commercialize proprietary therapeutic products; (2) the risk that clinical trials of products that Celera Genomics do discover and develop will not proceed as anticipated or may not be successful, or that such products will not receive required regulatory clearances or approvals; (3) the uncertainty that Celera Genomics' products will be accepted and adopted by the market, including the risk that these products will not be competitive with products offered by other companies, or that users will not be entitled to receive adequate reimbursement for these products from third-party payors such as private insurance companies and government insurance plans; (4) uncertainty of the availability to Celera Genomics of intellectual property protection, limitations on their ability to protect trade secrets, and the risk to them of infringement claims; and (5) 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.

Copyright (C) 2005. Applera Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Applied Biosystems, Celera, Celera Diagnostics, Celera Discovery System, and Celera Genomics are trademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or certain other countries.