Celera Genomics and Lynx Announce Agreements for Software and Database Development and Services.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

ROCKVILLE, Md. & HAYWARD, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--March 8, 2001

Lynx Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:LYNX) and Celera Genomics (NYSE:CRA), an Applera Corporation business, announced today the signing of two agreements between the companies. The first agreement involves the integration of sets of Lynx's high-resolution gene expression data, derived from normal human tissues analyzed using Lynx's MPSS(TM) technology, into Celera's database products for distribution to Celera's customers through the Celera Discovery System (CDS). Under a second agreement, Lynx will apply its MPSS(TM) technology to perform additional gene expression analyses for Celera and to help supplement the Lynx database offering.

Celera intends to apply its bioinformatics expertise to analyze Lynx's high-resolution gene expression data and to design and develop software tools to view and distribute the related information in CDS. Celera intends to use Lynx to create a body atlas of gene expression data. Lynx produces the high-resolution gene expression data by applying its MPSS(TM) technology to samples from a broad assortment of healthy human tissues and cell lines. Additionally, Lynx will apply its MPSS(TM) technology to analyze gene expression in various tissues selected by Celera. Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

"We are delighted to be commercializing through Celera the body of human genomic information we produce using our MPSS(TM) technology," stated Norrie Russell, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Lynx. "In addition to the scientific interest in such data, we hope to expand on the commercial interest and demand for our products and services through working with a collaborator of the power and excellence of Celera."

"This agreement between Celera and Lynx is an example of the ways that Celera is looking to enhance the utility of our genomics and related biological data sets," said Peter Barrett, Ph.D., Celera's executive vice president and chief business officer. "With Lynx we believe we can supplement our internal discovery capabilities, as well as those of our customers, with the addition of the MPSS technology."

About MPSS(TM)

Lynx's MPSS(TM) technology produces gene sequence information and high-resolution gene expression data. By simultaneously generating sequence information from millions of DNA fragments, it eliminates the need for individual sequencing reactions and for the physical separation of DNA fragments required by conventional sequencing methods. MPSS(TM) identifies each DNA molecule by a unique 16- to 20-base signature sequence, produces a comprehensive quantitative profile of gene expression in cells or tissues of interest, and is capable of identifying the rarest expressed genes.

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 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 regarding Celera 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.

About Lynx

Lynx is a leader in the development and application of novel technologies for the discovery of gene expression patterns and genomic variations important to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agricultural industries. These approaches are based on Megaclone(TM) technology, Lynx's unique and proprietary cloning procedure, which transforms a sample containing millions of DNA molecules into one made up of millions of micro-beads, each of which (referred to as a DNA analysis template) carries approximately 100,000 copies of one of the DNA molecules in the sample. Lynx prepares nearly 100 million of such DNA analysis templates every week for subsequent analyses. Megaclone(TM) technology is the foundation for Lynx's analytical applications, including: Massively Parallel Signature Sequencing, or MPSS(TM), technology, which provides gene sequence information and high-resolution gene expression data including even the very rare transcripts; Megasort(TM) technology, which provides differentially expressed gene sets; and Megatype(TM) technology, which is expected to provide single nucleotide polymorphism, or SNP, disease- or trait-association information. For more information, please visit www.lynxgen.com.

Statements included in this press release that are not historical in nature, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include those related to performance of genomics discovery services for the analysis of gene expression in biological samples, the design and development of software to view and distribute such information, and the commercialization of any intellectual property stemming from the collaborative effort. Lynx cautions readers that forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties can include the failure to perform genomics discovery services; the failure to produce, analyze, and to design and develop tools to view and distribute the related gene expression information; the prospect of continued losses by the Company; and other risks identified from time to time in the Lynx's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Lynx directs readers to its reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000.

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.