Abbott and Celera Diagnostics Announce CE Marking for Hiv-1 Real-Time PCR Viral Load Test

— Test provides highly accurate tool for measuring levels of HIV-1 and its subtypes in the blood, allowing physicians to better manage patient therapy —

DELKENHEIM, Germany, June 16, 2005 — Abbott and Celera Diagnostics, a joint venture between the Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI) and Celera Genomics Group (NYSE:CRA) of Applera Corporation, today announced that Abbott has received CE Mark certification for a real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for monitoring HIV-1 viral load in patients.

Under the IV Diagnostics Directive 98/79/EC, CE marking allows the test to be sold in the European Union. The Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay has been developed for use on the Abbott m2000 system, an automated instrument using real-time PCR technology for the detection and quantification of infectious agents that cause disease. Additional tests are in development for the Abbott m2000 system, including methods for detecting hepatitis C, hepatitis B, chlamydia and gonorrhea.

"With the dramatic improvements in antiretroviral therapy for patients infected with HIV, the ability to accurately and quickly measure virus levels in the blood is essential in providing optimal treatment for patients and improving the quality of their lives," said Anna Maria Geretti, M.D., Ph.D., head of the retrovirology laboratory, Royal Free Hospital, London, whose laboratory was one of more than 20 clinical sites throughout Europe to participate in the evaluation of the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay and the m2000 system. "Our experience with this test has demonstrated its effectiveness in quantifying the diverse subtypes of this virus across a wide range of plasma RNA levels."

The Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay is among the most sensitive viral load tests available today, with a broad dynamic range, capable of detecting HIV-1 in plasma down to as few as 40 RNA molecules per milliliter and as high as 10 million RNA molecules per milliliter, thereby reducing the need for sample dilutions and additional testing. The Abbott m2000 instrument system purifies the nucleic acid from the specimen and automatically combines this with the assay reagents. The system's software has been specifically designed to be user-friendly and results are automatically calculated to provide highly reliable patient results for HIV viral load testing.

"We're particularly pleased with the robustness of this real-time test system and the accuracy and precision of the assay on the many subtypes of the virus," said Thomas White, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, Celera Diagnostics. "From the start, our efforts with Abbott have recognized that AIDS is a worldwide threat to health, and previously rare forms of the virus are becoming more frequent in developed countries. By detecting these viral subtypes and also predicting whether they will be sensitive to various antiviral drugs, we are developing molecular diagnostics that help physicians determine the best possible course of treatment."

"Our innovative approach to research and development, focusing on assay performance and advanced automation, is bringing another level of confidence to the clinical molecular lab," said Edward Michael, president, Abbott Molecular. "The Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay and the m2000 system are an example of this approach, and build upon the existing portfolio of real-time PCR reagents we market throughout the world."

"This important test, along with our ViroSeq HIV-1 Genotyping System, are part of our commitment to improve HIV testing and outcomes for patients," said Kathy Ordonez, president, Celera Diagnostics. "Our exclusive partnership with Abbott in molecular diagnostics offers a unique strength that, we believe, is changing the way clinical testing is performed."

About Real-Time PCR
Real-time PCR is a modification of standard PCR, which is often compared to the photocopying of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA). The process involves the alternate heating and cooling of a small sample containing a segment of nucleic acid molecules dozens of times over several hours. Throughout this process, copies of these DNA molecules are "amplified" or exponentially increased so that the nucleic acid can be more readily analyzed. The method is called "real-time PCR" because the amplified DNA can be detected during the PCR process, in real time, rather than at the end of the process. This ensures more accurate and precise quantification of nucleic acid. The real-time PCR reaction proceeds automatically with no user intervention, providing increased productivity and reduced opportunity for human error, resulting in consistent and reproducible results.

About Viral Load Testing
Quantitative measurements of HIV levels in blood have greatly contributed to the understanding of the process by which the virus infection leads to disease and has been shown to be an essential parameter in prognosis and management of HIV infected individuals. Decisions regarding initiation or changes in antiretroviral therapy are guided by monitoring plasma HIV levels or viral load, CD4-T cell count, and the patient's clinical condition. The goal of antiretroviral therapy is to reduce the HIV virus in plasma to below detectable levels.

Abbott and HIV/AIDS
Abbott has been a leader in HIV/AIDS research since the early years of the epidemic, for patients' diagnostic, monitoring and management. In 1985, the company developed the world's first licensed test to detect HIV antibodies in the blood, and remains the leader in HIV diagnostics. Today, Abbott offers a range of tests for use in diagnosing and monitoring HIV patients, including the ViroSeq HIV-1 Genotyping System, a sequencing-based testing method developed by Celera Diagnostics for accurate identification of known drug-resistant HIV-1 mutations. Abbott markets the test as part of its alliance with Celera Diagnostics.

About the Abbott/Celera Diagnostics Alliance
In 2002, Abbott and Celera Diagnostics, a joint venture between the Applied Biosystems Group and the Celera Genomics Group of Applera Corporation, entered into a long-term strategic alliance to develop, manufacture and market a broad range of in vitro molecular diagnostic products for disease detection, disease progression monitoring and therapy selection. The alliance develops and commercializes molecular diagnostic products to detect and manage infectious diseases and chronic conditions including autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system disorders and cancer. Celera Diagnostics' focus is primarily on assay development and genetic marker discovery and validation. Abbott's focus is on product development and sales and marketing, serving as the worldwide distributor for most products developed by the alliance.

About Celera Diagnostics and Applera Corporation Celera Diagnostics, a 50/50 joint venture between Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics, is focused on discovery, development, and commercialization of diagnostic products. 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. 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 Celera Diagnostics is available at http://www.celeradiagnostics.com.

About Abbott
Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than 60,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott's news releases and other information are available at the company's Web site at www.abbott.com.

Applera Corporation's Forward-Looking Statements
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," "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) uncertainty that the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 assay or the m2000 system will be accepted by the market, including the risk that these products will not be competitive with products offered by other companies; and (2) 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.

Abbott's Forward-Looking Statements
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 —
A Caution Concerning Forward—Looking Statements

Some statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements for the purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect Abbott's operations are discussed in Exhibit 99.1 of our Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005, and are incorporated by reference. We undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as the result of subsequent events or developments.