Applied Biosystems Announces Expanded PCR Licensing Program; Litigatio

    Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers
    BIOWIRE2K

    FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2005--Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, today announced Applera has reached definitive agreement with Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche) to expand their PCR licensing program to incorporate enabling patents for real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and other important PCR-related technology. Simultaneously, Applera and Roche have reached a settlement with respect to their outstanding litigation and arbitration related to contractual relationships involving rights to and commercialization of PCR and real-time PCR. Financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Under the terms of the agreements, Applied Biosystems will be authorized by Roche to be the sole licensor of Roche patents covering reagents and methods for practicing PCR and real-time PCR in the life science research and applied fields.
    PCR, an enabling technology for life science and other research, is a Nobel Prize-winning process in which a segment of a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) is copied or "amplified" multiple times by alternate heating and cooling so that the nucleic acid can be more readily analyzed. In real-time PCR, the amplified DNA is detected during the PCR process instead of at the end of the amplification process.
    "Real time facilitates a number of important additional applications for PCR in biological research and standardized testing, including gene expression quantitation and genotyping," said Paul D. Grossman, Ph.D., Vice President, Strategic Planning, Business Development and Intellectual Property at Applied Biosystems. "We are pleased to expand our longstanding PCR licensing program with Roche to enable researchers worldwide to practice these innovative methods via access to these real-time patents."
    "We are pleased to have resolved our dispute with Roche," said Catherine Burzik, President of Applied Biosystems. "We believe licensing real-time PCR reagents and patents will enable broad commercial access to this second-generation PCR technology and will accelerate the pace of life science research. If we are successful with this expanded licensing program, we also expect it will generate significant income for Applied Biosystems that should substantially offset income lost from expiring first-generation PCR patents."
    The real-time PCR patents to be licensed by Applera have issued in the United States, Europe, Japan, and certain other geographies. Roche and Applera have also agreed to the terms of a diagnostic license to Applera under Roche's nucleic acid technology patents.

    About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems

    Applera Corporation consists of two operating groups. The Applied Biosystems Group serves the life science industry and research community by developing and marketing instrument-based systems, consumables, software, and services. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to make scientific discoveries, develop new pharmaceuticals, and conduct standardized testing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of $1.7 billion during fiscal 2004. The Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA) is engaged principally in the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics for cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Celera Genomics is leveraging its proteomic, bioinformatic, and genomic capabilities to identify and validate drug targets, and to discover and develop small molecule therapeutics. It is also seeking to advance therapeutic antibody and selected small molecule drug programs in collaboration with global technology and market leaders. Celera Diagnostics, a 50/50 joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of diagnostic products. Information about Applera Corporation, including reports and other information filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available at http://www.applera.com, or by telephoning 800-762-6923. Information about Applied Biosystems is available at http://www.appliedbiosystems.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this press release, including the Outlook sections, are forward-looking. These may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "should," "anticipate," and "planned," 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 Applied Biosystems include but are not limited to: (1) rapidly changing technology could adversely affect demand for Applied Biosystems' products, and its business is dependent on development of new products; (2) risks associated with lawsuits, arbitrations, investigations, and other legal actions with private parties and governmental entities, particularly involving claims for infringement of patents and other intellectual property rights; and (3) other factors that might be described from time to time in Applera Corporation'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 2005. Applera Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Applied Biosystems, Celera, and AB (Design) are registered trademarks, and Applera, Celera Diagnostics, and Celera Genomics are trademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U. S. and/or certain other countries.

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CONTACT: Applied Biosystems Group Ana Kapor, 650-638-6227 (Media) ana.kapor@appliedbiosystems.com Peter Dworkin, 650-554-2479 (Investors) dworkipg@appliedbiosystems.com David Speechly, Ph.D., (+) 44.162.273.9150 (European Media and Investors) speechdp@eur.appliedbiosystems.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MEDICAL PHARMACEUTICAL MEDICAL DEVICES BIOTECHNOLOGY PRODUCT SOURCE: Applied Biosystems Group

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