Vita Genomics Signs Celera Genomics to Database Subscription Deal
Taipei, Taiwan and Rockville, March 19, 2001


Vita Genomics, a newly established company based in Taiwan, announced today that the company has signed a multi-year subscription agreement with Celera Genomics (NYSE:CRA), an Applera Corporation business. Vita Genomics's researchers will access the Celera Discovery System to use Celera's integrated database products, bioinformatics systems, and other discovery tools to conduct genomics research. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"This agreement with Vita Genomics is important as it is the first company in Taiwan to access Celera's genomic databases," said J. Craig Venter, Ph.D., Celera's president and chief scientific officer. "Through the Celera Discovery System, researchers worldwide have immediate desktop access to some of the most advanced tools and systems with which to analyze and interpret the Celera generated genomic and biological data as well as publicly available data. The ability to integrate these massive amounts of data through one system should allow scientists to find particular disease genes, better understand genetic variation and its role in disease, as well as gain insight into the function of proteins within the body."

"We are very pleased to work with Celera Genomics, a premier genomics and biological information company," said Ellson Chen, Ph. D., president and chief executive officer of Vita Genomics, and formerly a principal scientist at Celera. "Using Celera's datasets, we intend to uncover targets for human diseases prevalent in the Taiwanese population as a basis for understanding the causes of disease in the Asia Pacific region and to develop and commercialize products for diagnosing, treating and preventing these diseases."

The Celera Discovery System is an integrated, web-based discovery system that allows subscribers to use Celera generated databases, additional non-proprietary genome and biological datasets, computational tools and super-computing power to advance the discovery programs of researchers worldwide.

About Vita Genomics
Vita Genomics, Inc. (VG), a new business entity established by Taiwanese investors, plans to set up its operations initially in Taiwan. The company is organized and managed by a group of renowned American scientists and senior biotechnology /pharmaceutical executives of Chinese descent. VG's business objective is to become a premier genomics-based biotechnology and biopharmaceutical company focused on improving biological products and understanding diseases prevalent in the Asia Pacific region. VG intends to achieve its objective in the following manner: 1) establish a state-of-the-art gene and drug discovery infrastructure; 2) develop a proprietary set of databases relevant to Asian-specific genotypes; 3) conduct highly-focused research efforts in major diseases prevalent among the Asian population; and 4) leverage infrastructure to meet needs for large-scale genomic analysis and product adaptation and improvement for Asian-specific markets. News releases by Vita Genomics will be available on the company's web site at www.vitagenomics.com.

About Celera
Applera Corporation, formerly PE Corporation, comprises two operating groups. The Celera Genomics Group, headquartered in Rockville, MD, intends to be the definitive source of genomic and related medical information. Celera has developed three business units: the On-line Information Business, Discovery Sciences, and Discovery Services, which all build upon Celeras generation, integration, and analysis of biological information. Celera intends to enable therapeutic and diagnostic discoveries both through its own application of its scientific capabilities and in partnership with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI) 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) and proteins in order to make scientific discoveries, develop new pharmaceuticals, and conduct standardized testing. Applied Biosystems is headquartered in Foster City, CA, and reported sales of $1.4 billion during fiscal 2000. 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.

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 Vita Genomics'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, Vita Genomics 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. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the
operations, performance, development, and results of Vita Genomics' businesses include but are not limited to
(1) operating losses to date;
(2) a unique and expanding business plan;
(3) uncertainty of revenue growth;
(4) unproven use of genomics information to develop products;
(5) intense competition in the evolving genomics industry;
(6) dependence on customers in and subject to the risks of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries;
(7) lengthy sales cycle;
(8) dependence on the unique expertise of its scientific and management staff;
(9) dependence on computer hardware, software, and internet applications;
(10) access to biological materials;
(11) legal, ethical, and social issues affecting demand for products;
(12) disruptions caused by rapid growth of the business;
(13) government regulation of its products and services;
(14) risks of future acquisitions;
(15) uncertainty of outcome of stockholder litigation.