TETERBORO, N.J. & ALAMEDA, Calif., Oct 2, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Quest
Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) and Celera Diagnostics, a joint venture
between the Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI) and the Celera Genomics Group
(NYSE:CRA) of Applera Corporation, today announced an agreement to collaborate
in establishing the clinical utility of laboratory tests based on novel
diagnostic markers for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This collaboration
will support current and future disease association studies at Celera
Diagnostics that seek to identify genetic markers associated with these
important diseases.
The agreement provides Quest Diagnostics with exclusive access to markers found
to have clinical utility through the collaboration for a defined time, and
establishes Celera Diagnostics as a preferred vendor to Quest Diagnostics for
certain molecular diagnostic products. Additional terms of the agreement were
not disclosed.
"We are pleased to collaborate with Celera Diagnostics to develop commercial
applications for its anticipated ground-breaking scientific discoveries in the
critical areas of cardiovascular disease and diabetes," said Kenneth W. Freeman,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Quest Diagnostics. "Our clinical
expertise, combined with Celera Diagnostics' recognized research capability,
should expand access to the diagnostic and therapeutic insights made available
through gene-based technology for millions of patients and their physicians."
"This collaboration is important to Celera Diagnostics in establishing the
medical and economic value of our discoveries," said Kathy Ordonez, President,
Celera Diagnostics. "We look forward to working with Quest Diagnostics to help
ensure that physicians and their patients obtain rapid access to tests for these
serious diseases."
The disease association studies described in today's announcement are being
conducted by Celera Diagnostics. In June 2002, Abbott Laboratories and Celera
Diagnostics formed 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
focuses on development of nucleic acid-based tests for infectious and genetic
diseases and cancer. The two companies are contributing current products to the
alliance and collaborating on the development of new products.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the nation's leading provider of diagnostic
testing, information and services, providing insights that enable physicians,
hospitals, managed care organizations and other healthcare professionals to make
decisions to improve health. The company offers the broadest access to
diagnostic laboratory services through its national network of laboratories and
patient service centers. Quest Diagnostics is the leading provider of esoteric
testing, including gene-based medical testing, and empowers healthcare
organizations and clinicians with state-of-the-art connectivity solutions that
improve practice management. Additional company information can be found on the
Internet at: www.questdiagnostics.com.
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts or
information may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the outcome to be materially
different. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are listed in the Quest
Diagnostics Incorporated 2001 Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
About Celera Diagnostics and Applera Corporation
Celera Diagnostics is a 50/50 joint venture between two Applera Corporation
businesses, Applied Biosystems and Celera Genomics. Headquartered in Alameda,
CA, Celera Diagnostics focuses on discovering novel genetic markers for disease
and configuring these into new diagnostic tests to predict, characterize,
monitor and select therapy for cardiovascular disease, auto-immunity, central
nervous system disorders, and cancer. 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 2002. The Celera
Genomics Group, 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 proteomics, bioinformatics, and
genomics capabilities to identify and validate drug targets and diagnostic
marker candidates, and to discover and develop novel therapeutic candidates. Its
Celera Discovery System(TM) online platform, 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. Information
about Applera Corporation, including reports and other information filed by the
company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available at
www.applera.com, or by telephoning 800.762.6923.
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," 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)
unproven ability of Celera Diagnostics to discover, develop, and commercialize
diagnostic products; (2) unproven use of genomics information to develop
diagnostic products; (3) uncertainty in obtaining intellectual property
protection for inventions made by Celera Diagnostics, and uncertainty in
obtaining any necessary third party intellectual property licenses; (4)
uncertainty that Celera Diagnostics will be able to obtain access to the tissue
samples and other biological materials necessary for its research and
development efforts; (5) possibility of delays in making Celera Diagnostics'
manufacturing facility fully operational and unproven ability to scale up
manufacturing as product sales increase; and (6) 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.
Copyright(c)2002. Applera Corporation. All rights reserved. Applied Biosystems
is a registered trademark and Applera, Celera, Celera Diagnostics, and Celera
Genomics are trademark of Applera Corporation or its subsidiaries in the US and
certain other countries.
CONTACT:
For Celera Diagnostics
Lori Murray, 650/638-6130 (Media)
murrayla@appliedbiosystems.com
Peter Dworkin, 650/554-2479 (Investors)
dworkipg@applera.com
or
Quest Diagnostics
Gary Samuels, 201/393-5700 (Media)
samuelsg@questdiagnostics.com
Laure Park, 201/393-5030 (Investors)
parkl@questdiagnostics.com
Copyright (C) 2002 Business Wire. All rights reserved.