FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--May 29, 2002--Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, together with its partner MDS SCIEX, today introduced a high performance mass spectrometer for use in both proteomics and early stage small molecule drug development. The Q TRAP(TM) LC/MS/MS System combines two important mass spectrometry technologies for the first time -- triple quadrupole and ion trap -- to identify proteins and peptides in proteomics research and small molecule drug metabolites important in therapeutic development. The system will be on exhibit June 2 at the 50th Annual American Society of Mass Spectrometry Conference in Orlando, FL.

"The Q TRAP system provides discovery researchers with a new highly sensitive tool with significant versatility. This system is expected to increase productivity in drug discovery through improved metabolite identification while providing a cost-effective and high performance protein identification platform," said Michael W. Hunkapiller, Ph.D., President of Applied Biosystems. "This unique combination of triple quadrupole and ion trap capabilities has the ability to identify more metabolites and more proteins in complex samples than current technologies."

Q TRAP System Combines Benefits of Triple Quadrupole Technology and Ion Trap

The Q TRAP system, based on a patented linear hybrid technology, combines triple quadrupole and ion trap mass spectrometry. Using the Q TRAP system, academic and pharmaceutical researchers performing proteomics work, where multiple peptides and proteins are analyzed, should be able to identify more of these per sample with higher confidence and accuracy than with currently available ion trap systems. Later stage drug discovery researchers analyzing small molecule drug metabolism and ADME -- absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion -- are expected to be able to both rapidly identify and quantitate a broad range of metabolites on the same system.

Early Access Partners

The Q TRAP(TM) LC/MS/MS System has been under evaluation at customer sites over the past eight months as part of the Applied Biosystems early access partnership program. Among these partners are Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the University of Geneva (Switzerland), MDS Proteomics, MDS Pharma Services and Advion BioSciences.

"High-throughput, automated LC/MS/MS is an essential technology for the proteomics initiatives at Millennium Pharmaceuticals," said Steven A. Carr, Ph.D., Senior Director of Discovery Technologies of Millennium Pharmaceuticals. "The availability of additional scan functions on the Q TRAP system make it a more versatile instrument than current 3-D ion traps for peptide and protein analysis. The Q TRAP system is a very welcome addition to our suite of tools for proteomics."

"The new combined features of the Q TRAP system bring a completely new approach to the way in which we can both characterize and quantify metabolites in discovery and early drug development research efforts," said Gerard Hopfgartner, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmaceutical Analytical Chemistry of the University of Geneva. "The system is more robust, provides higher quality data and minimizes sample consumption, opening new doors for automated search and characterization of metabolites in biological matrices."

Family of Mass Spectrometry Products

The addition of this system builds upon the strong Applied Biosystems' suite of mass spectrometry tools for a broad range of applications in life science research. The API 2000(TM), 3000(TM) and 4000(TM) LC/MS/MS triple quadrupole systems are used for quantitative analyses throughout the drug development process. The API 2000 system is a cost effective entry-level system used in early drug development phases where ease-of-use is important. The mid-range API 3000 system is versatile and has wide acceptance and applicability throughout the development process. The API 4000 system is believed to be the highest sensitivity platform currently available enabling researchers to detect low levels of known drugs in a sample during clinical trials. With the introduction of the Q TRAP system, Applied Biosystems now offers an entry-level qualitative platform for drug development researchers that compliments the high-end API QSTAR(TM) Pulsar Hybrid LC/MS/MS System. Both systems are designed to allow researchers to rapidly identify metabolites or impurities in complex samples.

In proteomics, the Q TRAP system is also an attractive entry-level platform allowing researchers to rapidly identify peptides and proteins in complex samples. Similarly, the API QSTAR system provides greater mass resolution and mass accuracy than the Q TRAP, thus providing increased confidence in protein identification results necessary for use in protein characterization and expression. The 4700 Proteomics Analyzer, introduced in January 2002, is the first commercial instrument to employ the new, high-speed Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) source and Applied Biosystems TOF/TOF(TM) Optics, creating advanced Tandem Time of Flight mass spectrometry technology. This technology combination permits fast, accurate identification and characterization of protein samples at throughput rates of as much as 1000 samples per hour -- up to ten times faster than current technology. Overall, these systems could be useful in making the drug development process more efficient and cost effective.

ASMS and Applied Biosystems Related Events

Also at the ASMS conference next week, Applied Biosystems and its collaborators will present data on mass spectrometry research in more than 50 scientific oral and poster presentations. Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX is hosting a users meeting on Sunday, June 2 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET in the Grand Ballroom VII at the Orlando World Center Marriott. To register for the user's meeting, please visit http://events-na.appliedbiosystems.com/mk/get/ASMS. Following the user's meeting on June 2, Applied Biosystems will host an investor meeting from 3:30 p.m. ET to 5:00 p.m. ET in the Key Biscayne room at the Orlando World Center Marriott. Interested parties who wish to view the webcast of this meeting should visit www.appliedbiosystems.com and within the "About Us" section go to the presentations page of the Investor Relations web site. The meeting will also be archived on this page. To listen to the meeting by telephone, dial 706/634-4992 (code "Applera") between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m ET. An audio replay of the meeting will be available two hours after completion of the conference call until June 11. Interested parties should call 706/645-9291 and enter conference ID 4235222.

The Q TRAP system will also be on display June 9-12 in Toronto, Canada at the Bio 2002 International Biotechnology Convention and Exhibition at the Metro Toronto Convention Center in the MDS Inc. booth number 1415.

Additional information about the Q TRAP(TM) LC/MS/MS System can be found by visiting the electronic "Press Kit" web page within the "About Us" section of the Applied Biosystems web site at www.appliedbiosystems.com. Video footage and a photograph of the system can be downloaded by visiting www.newstream.com.

About Applera Corporation and Applied Biosystems

Applera Corporation comprises two operating groups. The Applied Biosystems Group develops and markets instrument-based systems, reagents, software, and contract services to the life science industry and research community. Customers use these tools to analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteins to make scientific discoveries, leading to the development of new pharmaceuticals, and to conduct standardized testing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of $1.6 billion during fiscal 2001. The Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA), 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 genomic and proteomic technology platforms to identify drug targets and diagnostic marker candidates and to discover novel therapeutics. Its Celera Discovery System(TM) online platform, to be marketed exclusively through the Knowledge Business of Applied Biosystems, is an integrated source of information based on the human genome and other biological and medical sources. Celera Diagnostics, a joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of novel diagnostics tests. 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. Information about Applied Biosystems is available on the World Wide Web at www.appliedbiosystems.com.

About MDS SCIEX and MDS Inc.

MDS SCIEX is the analytical instrumentation division of MDS Inc. (NYSE: MDZ); (TSE: MDS) MDS Inc. is an international health and life sciences company with revenues of $1.6B in 2001. Its products and services include: laboratory testing, imaging agents for nuclear medicine testing, sterilization systems for medical and consumer products, research and clinical development services for planning and delivery of cancer treatment, analytical instruments to assist in the development of new drugs, and medical/surgical supplies. MDS employs more than 10,000 highly skilled people at its global operations on four continents. Detailed information about the company is available at the MDS Web site at www.mdsintl.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" 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 such forward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limited to (1) rapidly changing technology and dependence on development of new products; (2) sales dependent on customers' capital spending policies and government-sponsored research; and (3) and other factors that might be described from time to time in Applera Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copyright(c) 2002. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved. Applied Biosystems is a registered trademark and API 2000, API 3000, API 4000, Applera, Celera, Celera Diagnostics, Celera Genomics and ICAT are trademarks of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and certain other countries.

Note to Editors: QSTAR and Q TRAP are trademarks of Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX Instruments, which is a joint venture between Applera Corporation and MDS Inc.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

• NOTE: A video relating to this story will be available for
• journalists to download beginning today at www.newstream.com and
• at www.businesswire.com

     Applied Biosystems
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