Celera Genomics and ViaLactia Biosciences Sign Bovine Gene Discovery Agreement.

Business & Health Editors

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BW HealthWire)--April 26, 2000

Celera Genomics (NYSE: CRA), a PE Corporation business, announced that Celera AgGen, its agriculture business, has signed an agreement with ViaLactia Biosciences New Zealand Ltd., to discover novel bovine genes that are important for increasing dairy productivity. Both companies believe that the use of genomics to identify important genes and traits at the molecular level is expected to contribute to sustainable improvements in the dairy industry.

Under terms of the agreement, Celera will use its unique high-throughput DNA sequencing, library development and advanced bioinformatics capabilities to identify important expressed genes in dairy cattle. All intellectual property will be jointly owned. Further terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The agreement combines Celera's advanced information, discovery and analysis expertise with ViaLactia's access to proficiency in bovine research and to well characterized dairy populations. These combined efforts should provide valuable insight into the underlying biochemistry associated with milk products and protein and fat production in milk.

"Celera's gene discovery program should accelerate the discovery of novel bovine genes that ViaLactia can use in the New Zealand dairy industry's integrated breeding programs," said Stephen Bates, Vice President of Celera and General Manager of Celera AgGen. "ViaLactia, through its' access to cattle populations, related phenotypic information and extensive knowledge of the dairy industry, together with Celera's information and discovery systems will begin building a broad-based repository of information related to cattle biology."

"We are pleased that Via Lactia has selected Celera to provide the core foundation for ViaLactia's bovine genomics program. This further validates the importance of Celera's integrated technology platforms for gene discovery," added J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., Celera's president and chief scientific officer. "Both organizations will continue to bring expertise to building a unique resource in bovine genomics. This is an exciting example of the ways that genomics can be used to enhance the well-being of the world's population."

PE Corporation currently comprises two operating groups. Celera Genomics Group, headquartered in Rockville, MD, intends to become the definitive source of genomic and related medical information. PE Biosystems Group, headquartered in Foster City, CA and with sales of $1.2 billion during fiscal 1999, develops and markets instrument-based systems, reagents, software, and contract related services to the life science industry and research community. Information about the company, including consolidated financial statements of PE Corporation, is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.pecorporation.com or by phoning [phone].

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," "anticipate," "should," "planned," "estimated," and "potential," among others. These forward-looking statements are based on PE 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, PE 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 developing business plan; (3) dependence on the timely completion of the sequencing and assembly of the human genome; (4) uncertainty of revenue growth; (5) unproven use of genomics information to develop products; (6) intense competition in the evolving genomics industry; (7) dependence on customers in and subject to the risks of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; (8) heavy reliance on strategic relationship with the PE Biosystems group; (9) potential product liability claims; (10) liabilities related to use of hazardous materials; (11) lengthy sales cycle; (12) dependence on the unique expertise of its scientific and management staff; (13) uncertainty of patent, copyright and intellectual property protection; (14) dependence on computer hardware, software, and internet applications; (15) access to biological materials; (16) legal, ethical and social issues affecting demand for products; (17) disruptions caused by rapid growth of the business; (18) government regulation of its products and services; (19) risks of future acquisitions; and (20) other factors that might be described from time to time in PE Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Copyright (c) 2000. PE Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Celera, Celera Genomics, and PE Biosystems are trademarks of PE Corporation.