Celera Signs DNA Sciences to Database Subscription Deal.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

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ROCKVILLE, Md. & FREMONT, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--June 15, 2001

Celera Genomics (NYSE:CRA), an Applera Corporation business, announced today that DNA Sciences, Inc., an integrated genetics discovery company, has signed a multi-year subscription agreement with Celera. DNA Sciences will access the Celera Discovery System(TM) (CDS) to use Celera's database products, bioinformatics systems, and other discovery tools in their research on the genetic basis of common disease susceptibility and treatment response. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"As a leader in genetics research ranging from DNA sequencing and genotyping to discovery and development efforts, we are pleased that DNA Sciences recognizes the power of our annotated genomic data and bioinformatics capabilities and has chosen to subscribe to CDS," said J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., Celera's president and chief scientific officer. "As the amount of genomic data expands and as researchers look for ways to manage and interpret these data, we believe that CDS will continue to be an integral component to biomedical research programs worldwide including Celera's own internal R&D efforts."

"We believe that access to the mouse and human genome and SNP databases will be valuable to our discovery of gene variants associated with common disease susceptibility and treatment response," said Hugh Y. Rienhoff Jr., M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of DNA Sciences, Inc.

The Celera Discovery System is an integrated, web-based platform 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.

"Our scientists will immediately apply these tools to our disease programs, particularly those studies where we have identified regions of interest in the genome," said Raymond L. White, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at DNA Sciences. "This information will make a tremendous contribution to our discovery efforts in common disease susceptibility and response to drug treatment."

About DNA Sciences

DNA Sciences, Inc. is an integrated genetics discovery company focused on identifying the genetic basis of common disease susceptibility, disease progression and response to drug treatment. DNA Sciences, Inc. is based in Fremont, Calif., and was founded in May 1998. DNA Sciences research is based on the idea that the genetic variants involved in common diseases are of low to moderate penetrance, i.e., only some carriers will develop the disease. Many of these moderately-penetrant gene variants may be difficult to detect using classical methods of discovery. DNA Sciences has developed new methods specifically designed to identify these types of gene variants. These gene variants will help patients and their physicians manage health more effectively through disease risk-reduction, earlier diagnosis and more specific therapies. DNA Sciences company recruits samples for its research through academic and corporate collaborations, as well as the DNA Sciences Gene Trust Project(sm). Visit DNA Sciences website at www.dna.com.

About Celera

Applera Corporation comprises two operating groups. The Celera Genomics Group, an integrated source of genomic and related medical information headquartered in Rockville, Md., is evolving to become a next generation diagnostic and therapeutic discovery company. Celera intends to leverage its industrialized approach to biology to develop platforms for enabling these new discoveries both for subscribers and for its own internal product development. 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. 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," "anticipate," and "potential," 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 forward-looking statements within this press release. The risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: (1) dependence on the final assembly and annotation of the human genome; (2) unproven use of genomics information to develop products; (3) dependence on computer hardware, software, and internet applications; (4 ) potential adverse effect on the Celera Genomics group's intellectual property protection and the value of its products and services due to public disclosure of genomics sequence data; (5) government regulation of Celera's products and services; and (6) 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 US and certain other countries.