Celera Genomics Signs Arena Pharmaceuticals to Database Subscription Agreement.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BW HealthWire)--March 15, 2001

Celera Genomics (NYSE:CRA), an Applera Corporation business, announced today that Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ARNA) has signed a multi-year subscription agreement to Celera's databases. Arena researchers will use Celera's integrated database products, bioinformatics systems, and other discovery tools in conducting their genomics research and will access Celera's products through the web-based Celera Discovery System(TM). Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"With the publication of the human genome and the discovery that there are less genes than was previously thought, scientists are now faced with a more complicated research landscape," said J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., Celera's president and chief scientific officer. "Celera is committed to providing researchers around the world with the tools to enhance the discovery process leading to improved human health. We believe that this subscription to the Celera Discovery System should allow Arena researchers to advance their research initiatives."

"We are pleased to be able to benefit from the enormous scientific contributions made by Celera in sequencing the Human Genome," stated Jack Lief, President & CEO of Arena. Lief further noted that, "Current estimates suggest, and we believe, that therapeutically relevant G protein-coupled receptor's (GPCRs) comprise about 600 to 900 of the estimated 30,000 human genes within the human genome. Arena currently has about two-thirds of these in-house available for drug discovery, and we believe that we can capture a substantial number of the remaining GPCRs in the human genome from Celera's database. This will help to bring us closer to our goal of applying our CART Technology to, and subsequently screening all, therapeutically relevant GPCRs for small molecule modulators within the next three to five years."

The Celera Discovery System is an integrated, web-based discovery system that enables users to leverage Celera's computational tools, super-computing power, and the genomic and biological data to advance the discovery process for researchers worldwide.

About Arena

Arena is a biopharmaceutical organization focused on the discovery and development of small molecule modulators of receptor drug targets using its proprietary CART(TM) Technology. Arena's CART Technology is primarily utilized for ligand-independent, direct identification of small molecule compounds that regulate the activity of GPCRs. CART is particularly useful with respect to orphan GPCRs that are estimated to comprise approximately 2% of the human genome. Such ligand-independent screening is made possible by genetic alteration of these receptors, using widely applicable and proprietary genetic cassettes. Arena has established CART collaborations with several pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations. Additional information about Arena may be found on their web site at www.arenapharm.com

About Celera

Applera Corporation, formerly PE Corporation, comprises two operating groups. The Celera Genomics Group, headquartered in Rockville, intends to be the definitive source of genomic and related medical information. Celera has developed three business units: the On-line Information Business, Discovery Sciences, and Discovery Services, all of which build upon Celera's generation, integration, and analysis of biological information. Celera intends to enable therapeutic and diagnostic discoveries both through its own application of its scientific capabilities and in partnership with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI) 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) and proteins in order to make scientific discoveries, develop new pharmaceuticals, and conduct standardized testing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, Calif., and reported sales of $1.4 billion during fiscal 2000. 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.

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. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance, development, and results of Celera Genomics' businesses include but are not limited to (1) operating losses to date; (2) a unique and expanding business plan; (3) uncertainty of revenue growth; (4) unproven use of genomics information to develop products; (5) intense competition in the evolving genomics industry; (6) dependence on customers in and subject to the risks of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; (7) heavy reliance on strategic relationship with the Applied Biosystems Group; (8) lengthy sales cycle; (9) dependence on the unique expertise of its scientific and management staff; (10) dependence on computer hardware, software, and internet applications; (11) access to biological materials; (12) legal, ethical, and social issues affecting demand for products; (13) disruptions caused by rapid growth of the business; (14) government regulation of its products and services; (15) risks of future acquisitions; (16) uncertainty of outcome of stockholder litigation; and (17) other factors that might be described from time to time in Applera Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Note to Editors: Applera, Celera, Celera Genomics, and Celera Discovery System are trademarks and Applied Biosystems is a registered trademark of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and certain other countries.