Abbott's RealTime Hepatitis B Viral Load Test Receives CE Marking in Europe

Abbott Media: Don Braakman (224) 361-7246
Financial: Tina Ventura (847) 935-9390
Celera Media & Financial: David Speechly, Ph.D. (510) 749-1853

Represents first and only molecular test capable of detecting andmeasuring all known forms of hepatitis B genotypes, providing avaluable tool for physicians in managing patient therapy

DELKENHEIM, Germany, June 21,2007 Abbott and Celera, anApplera Corporation business, announced today that Abbott has receivedCE marking for a real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test formonitoring hepatitis B (HBV) viral load in patients, allowing the testto be marketed in the European Union. Abbott is marketing the testunder its strategic alliance with Celera.

The Abbott RealTime HBV test, developed for use on the Abbott m2000automated instrument system, is designed for the quantitation (precisemeasurement) of HBV in human plasma or serum from patients known to beinfected with the virus. It is intended for use in conjunction withclinical presentation and other laboratory markers as an indicator ofdisease prognosis and as an aid in assessing a patient's response toantiviral treatment. With the addition of the HBV test, the m2000offers the broadest menu of molecular tests available on a singleinstrument platform. The m2000 menu includes real-time PCR tests forHIV-1, hepatitis C, chlamydia, and a combination test for chlamydia andgonorrhea.

Quantitative measurements of HBV levels in plasma or serum have beenshown to be an essential parameter in the prognosis and management ofpatients with HBV. An initial measurement of HBV viral load can guide adecision to begin antiviral therapy, while monitoring HBV DNA levelsduring therapy can influence its duration and also signal thedevelopment of drug resistance.

In addition, the higher the baseline viral level the more likely apatient is to develop hepatocellular carcinoma, a primary cancer of theliver.

"The Abbott RealTime HBV assay is the only test currently availablethat targets an essential, highly conserved segment of the HBV genome,which makes it a very reliable test for detecting and measuring allknown HBV genotypes," said John Robinson, Ph.D., senior director,research and development, Abbott Molecular. "It gives physicians one ofthe most precise tests available to guide treatment decisions andbuilds upon Abbott's 30-year legacy in hepatitis testing."

HBV genomes have been classified into eight genotypes (A-H).Detecting HBV genotypes is important in terms of both monitoring thedisease and guiding treatment decisions. For example, genotype C, whichis prevalent in Asia, is considered to be associated with more severeliver disease and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. In contrast,genotype B (also prevalent in the Asia region) has a better prognosis,is rarely associated with hepatocellular carcinoma and seems to have abetter response to certain antiviral therapies compared with genotype C.

The Abbott RealTime HBV assay has been developed for use on theAbbott m2000 system, an automated instrument for DNA and RNA testing inmolecular laboratories. The m2000 system is based on real-timepolymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology and is designed toefficiently detect and measure life-threatening viruses and bacteria inpatient serum or plasma samples in less than five hours, compared toother testing methods that may take up to two days. The RealTime HBVtest is not intended as a screening test for HBV or as a diagnostictest for confirming the presence of HBV infection.

Abbott currently markets the m2000 system and a menu of tests incountries throughout the world as part of a strategic alliance withCelera. In Europe, the instrument's menu includes assays for HIV-1viral load, HCV viral load, chlamydia, and a combination test forchlamydia and gonorrhea.

"We're very pleased that the menu for the m2000 system is expandingin Europe with the registration of the RealTime assay for monitoringhepatitis B viral load," said Kathy OrdoÑez, president, Celera. "Thefive tests now approved for sale in Europe on the m2000 systemreinforce the system's breadth of menu as a competitive advantage."

About Hepatitis B
According to the World Health Organization, hepatitis B is a seriousglobal public health problem, but preventable with safe and effectivevaccines that have been available since 1982. Of the two billion peoplewho have been infected with the hepatitis B virus, more than 350million have chronic (lifelong) infections. These chronically infectedpersons are at high risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and livercancer, diseases that kill about one million people each year. Althoughthe vaccine will not cure chronic hepatitis, it is 95 percent effectivein preventing chronic infections from developing. The prevalence of HBVinfection and the method of transmission vary greatly around the world.In countries with a high prevalence of chronic HBV infection, the mostcommon route of infection is from mother to child at birth or fromchild to child during early childhood. In areas of low prevalence, theinfection is usually acquired during adulthood through intravenous druguse or high-risk sexual activity.

About Applera Corporation and Celera
Applera Corporation consists of two operating groups: Celera and theApplied Biosystems groups. Celera is primarily a molecular diagnosticsbusiness that is using proprietary genomics and proteomics discoveryplatforms to identify and validate novel diagnostic markers, and isdeveloping diagnostic products based on these markers as well as otherknown markers. Celera maintains a strategic alliance with Abbott forthe development and commercialization of molecular, or nucleicacid-based, diagnostic products, and is also developing new diagnosticproducts outside of this alliance. Through its genomics and proteomicsresearch efforts, Celera is also discovering and validating therapeutictargets, and has established and is seeking strategic partnerships todevelop therapeutic products based on these discovered targets.

The Applied Biosystems Group serves the life science industry andresearch community by developing and marketing instrument-basedsystems, consumables, software, and services. Customers use these toolsto analyze nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), small molecules, and proteinsto make scientific discoveries and develop new pharmaceuticals. AppliedBiosystems' products also serve the needs of some markets outside oflife science research, which is referred to as "applied markets," suchas the fields of: human identity testing (forensic and paternitytesting); biosecurity, which refers to products needed in response tothe threat of biological terrorism and other malicious, accidental, andnatural biological dangers; and quality and safety testing, for examplein food and the environment. Applied Biosystems is headquartered inFoster City, Calif., and reported sales of over $1.9 billion duringfiscal 2006. Information about Applera Corporation, including reportsand other information filed by the company with the Securities andExchange Commission, is available at http://www.applera.com, or bytelephoning 800.762.6923. Information about Celera is available at http://www.celera.com.

Applera Corporation's Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking. These maybe identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as"believe," "plan," and "should," among others. These forward-lookingstatements are based on Applera Corporation's current expectations. ThePrivate Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safeharbor" for such forward-looking statements. In order to comply withthe terms of the safe harbor, Applera notes that a variety of factorscould cause actual results and experience to differ materially from theanticipated results or other expectations expressed in suchforward-looking statements. These factors include but are not limitedto (1) uncertainty that the Abbott RealTime HIV-1 and HCV assays or them2000 system will be accepted by the market, including the risk thatthese products will not be competitive with products offered by othercompanies; and (2) other factors that might be described from time totime 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.

About Abbott's Molecular Diagnostics Business
Abbott Molecular, a division of Abbott based in Des Plaines, Ill., isan emerging leader in molecular diagnostics — the analysis of DNA, RNAand proteins at the molecular level. Abbott Molecular's instruments andtests provide physicians with critical information based on the earlydetection of pathogens and subtle, but key changes in patients' genesand chromosomes. They help physicians diagnose disease and infectionsearlier, select appropriate therapies and monitor disease progression.In addition to the m2000 and the RealTime tests for infectiousdiseases, Abbott Molecular's portfolio of products includes innovativegenomic tests for chromosome changes associated with congenitaldisorders and cancer, including the PathVysion HER-2 DNA Probe Kit, atest used to help select women with breast cancer who could benefitfrom Herceptin therapy, and UroVysion, which detects genetic changes inbladder cells for aiding in the diagnosis and monitoring of bladdercancer in patients with hematuria (blood in the urine) and formonitoring of bladder cancer recurrence.

About Abbott
Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to thediscovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticalsand medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics.The company employs 65,000 people and markets its products in more than130 countries.

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

www.abbottmolecular.com/AbbottsRealTimeHepatitisBViralLoadTestReceivesCEMarkinginEurope_4182.asp