Applied Biosystems Introduces New Line of Genetic Analyzers at the American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting

Researchers Now Have More Options for Conducting a Range of Genetic Analysis Applications; Applied Biosystems Announces ASHG-Related Events

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 2004-- Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, today announced the introduction of a new line of Genetic Analyzers for low- to medium-throughput laboratories. The Applied Biosystems 3130 Series Genetic Analyzers, which replace the ABI PRISM® 3100 and 3100-Avant Genetic Analyzers, deliver enhanced automation, faster turnaround times, higher reliability, and higher data quality than previous generation technologies across a wide range of applications, including de novo sequencing, resequencing, mutation detection, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, and microsatellite analysis. The system will be on exhibit beginning tomorrow at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, October 26-30, 2004.

The Applied Biosystems 3130 Genetic Analyzer is a four-capillary system, and the 3130xl Genetic Analyzer is a 16-capillary system. Customers purchasing the 3130 System have the flexibility to easily upgrade their system to the 16-capillary 3130xl system if they require higher throughput in the future.

"Even in today's post-human genome sequencing era, genetic analysis continues to play a vital and growing role in the life sciences industries," said Catherine M. Burzik, President of Applied Biosystems. "Our DNA analyzers are increasingly being used for such applications as genotyping and mutational profiling (resequencing), in addition to the ongoing genome sequencing projects. Clinical research trials represent a growing market opportunity for these systems, where sequencing can be used to correlate the clinical responses of patients to an experimental treatment and to indicate that patients with specific gene sequences may be more responsive to the potential therapies under investigation."

"The new 3130 Series of Genetic Analyzers continues the Applied Biosystems tradition of pioneering the field of genetic analysis by offering next-generation systems to address the expansion of genetic analysis applications and the evolving needs of today's research environment," added Deborah Smeltzer, Vice President and General Manager of the Genetic Analysis Business. "The new four-capillary 3130 System and the 16-capillary 3130xl System leverage the same technology, reagents, consumables, and software interface that are used in the Applied Biosystems 3730 Series of DNA Analyzers, the industry standard for high throughput genetic analysis, which is an important consideration for laboratories that wish to standardize on a common platform."

Other features of the new 3130 Genetic Analyzer series include:

-- A new automated polymer delivery system that minimizes set-up and eliminates the need for syringe filling, maintenance, and clean-up.

-- A new detection cell heater and optimized 3130 POP-7™ modules that result in more consistent, higher quality data across a wider range of applications with faster turnaround times.

-- Expanded one-polymer, one-array functionality for both sequencing and fragment analysis applications, enabling users to seamlessly switch between sequencing and fragment analysis runs.

-- Increased data quality, longer read lengths, and higher resolution for applications such as de novo sequencing, resequencing, mutation detection, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, and microsatellite detection.

-- The 3130 Series Genetic Analyzers will be validated for use in forensic laboratories by calendar year end 2004.

Thomas McElroy, Product Manager for the 3130 Series Genetic Analyzers, will present an online seminar entitled "Introducing the New 3130 Series Genetic Analyzers" at times that are convenient for domestic and international participants from December 7-9, 2004. To register, please visit http://info.appliedbiosystems.com/webinars.

The 3130 and 3130xl Genetic Analyzers were co-developed under a product development collaboration that began in 1997 with Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, an affiliate of Hitachi, Ltd., of Tokyo, Japan.

ASHG and other Applied Biosystems Events

Applied Biosystems will host its 11th Annual Advancing Genomics Symposium on October 26, 2004 from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. in the Ballroom at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Canada. Leaders from industry, as well as scientists from Applied Biosystems, will discuss the applications of genotyping, gene expression, and resequencing to the study of various diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Outside speakers include Tim Frayling, Ph.D. of the Centre National de Genotypage, Guillermo Garcia-Cardena, Ph.D., of Harvard Medical School, and Ron Skurat of the University of California, San Francisco. To register for this event, please visit http://info.appliedbiosystems.com/ashg2. This meeting will not be webcasted.

The 3130 Series of Genetic Analyzers, the Applied Biosystems Expression Array Systems, and the recently introduced Applied Biosystems 9800 Fast PCR System and 7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR System will be on display at ASHG in booth number 302 and demonstrations will be given to customers and press upon request.

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 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/.

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," "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) sales dependent on customers' capital spending policies and government-sponsored research; 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© 2004. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved. Applied Biosystems, ABI PRISM, and Celera 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.

CONTACT: 
Applied Biosystems
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murrayla@appliedbiosystems.com
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SOURCE: Applied Biosystems