FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2004--Applied Biosystems (NYSE:ABI), an Applera Corporation business, today announced that the Opposition Division of the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich, Germany has revoked Applera's European Patent No. 872562 covering real-time PCR thermal cycler technology.

"We disagree with the EPO's ruling and will seek to have the patent reinstated through the appeal process," said Catherine M. Burzik, President of Applied Biosystems.

Applera's U.S. and Japanese real-time thermal cycler patents remain in place.

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/. 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) 2004. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved.

CONTACT:
Applied Biosystems
Ana Kapor, 650-638-6227 (Media)
ana.kapor@appliedbiosystems.com
Linda Greub, 650-554-2349 (Investors)
linda.greub@appliedbiosystems.com
David Speechly, Ph.D., (+) 44.162.273.9150
(European Media and Investors)
speechdp@eur.appliedbiosystems.com

SOURCE: Applied Biosystems