Genomics Collaborative and Celera Diagnostics Sign Rheumatoid Arthritis Agreement.

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jan. 16, 2003

Genomics Collaborative, Inc. (GCI), a clinical functional genomics company, and Celera Diagnostics, a joint venture between the Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI) and Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA), Applera Corporation businesses, today announced a collaborative agreement to support Celera Diagnostics' efforts to identify genetic patterns associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Under the terms of the agreement, GCI will provide Celera Diagnostics access to its DNA sample sets associated with rheumatoid arthritis, matched with unaffected control samples. Celera Diagnostics plans to analyze these samples with the goal of identifying genetic markers of this disease. GCI will receive an upfront payment as well as milestone payments on products that may be commercialized from the collaboration. The companies will share all data generated from these analyses. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The samples to be provided to Celera Diagnostics are currently stored in GCI's Global Repository(R), the largest commercial repository of properly consented biological specimens.

"The disease association expertise of Celera Diagnostics, combined with GCI's sample collections and study design input should facilitate our efforts to discover markers for rheumatoid arthritis," said Kathy Ordonez, President of Celera Diagnostics. "We are pleased to expand our relationship with GCI, based on our past experience working with its well characterized clinical specimens and its scientific staff."

"We are pleased to broaden our relationship with Celera Diagnostics," said Michael Pellini, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of GCI. "GCI has become a leader in enabling studies of sufficient statistical power by providing access to large numbers of well-documented clinical samples to the bio-pharmaceutical industry, and we look forward to working closely with Celera Diagnostics to improve our understanding of rheumatoid arthritis."

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of function in the joints and inflammation in other body organs. According to the American College of Rheumatology, the disease affects more than two million Americans. Although newer therapies for patients with rheumatoid arthritis can prevent the disfiguring and permanent joint damage associated with the disease, diagnosis of this complex disease is challenging and often made only after irreversible joint damage has occurred. New diagnostics that facilitate the earlier identification of individuals likely to have rheumatoid arthritis could lead to treatment prior to the onset of advanced joint damage.

About Celera Diagnostics and Applera Corporation

Celera Diagnostics is a 50/50 joint venture between two Applera Corporation businesses, Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics. Headquartered in Alameda, CA, Celera Diagnostics focuses on discovering novel genetic markers for disease and configuring these into new diagnostic tests to predict, characterize, monitor and select therapy for cardiovascular disease, auto-immunity, central nervous system disorders, and cancer. The Applied Biosystems Group 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, CA, and reported sales of $1.6 billion during fiscal 2002. The Celera Genomics Group, located in Rockville, MD, and South San Francisco, CA, is engaged principally in integrating advanced technologies to discover and develop new therapeutics. Celera intends to leverage its proteomics, bioinformatics, and genomics capabilities to identify and validate drug targets and diagnostic marker candidates, and to discover and develop novel therapeutic candidates. 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.

About Genomics Collaborative

Genomics Collaborative, Inc. ("GCI") is a functional genomics company with a clinical approach to discovery, focused on developing high value, proprietary intellectual property on its own account and in collaboration with bio-pharmaceutical companies and academic medical centers. To address a critical bottleneck in genomics-based drug discovery, GCI has built and maintains Global Repository(R), an unparalleled, large-scale resource of appropriately consented clinical research material, including human DNA, RNA, sera, and snap-frozen tissue samples, linked to detailed medical information collected from patient populations worldwide. The Company has prospectively enrolled over 115,000 patients in Global Repository(R), and patient recruitment continues in many disease states. GCI applies a suite of high throughput genomic analysis tools, including SNP Genotyping, DNA Sequencing, RT-PCR, and Gene Expression Analyses, leveraging the assets of Global Repository(R), placing the Company at the forefront of next generation target discovery and validation. Pharmaceutical researchers are able to utilize GCI's Global Repository(R) via the GCI Access(TM) program.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "plan," 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 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 factors include but are not limited to (1) unproven ability of Celera Diagnostics to discover, develop, and commercialize diagnostic products; (2) uncertainty in obtaining intellectual property protection for inventions made by Celera Diagnostics, and uncertainty in obtaining any necessary third party intellectual property licenses; (3) unproven use of genomic information to develop diagnostic products; and (4) other factors that might be described from time to time in Applera'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) 2003. Applera Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Applied Biosystems, Celera, Celera Diagnostics and Celera Genomics are registered trademarks of Applera.