Applied Biosystems/MDS Analytical Technologies Launches New Mass Spectrometer to Accelerate Proteomics Research

AB SCIEX 5800 System Sets New Standard to Translate Biomarker Discovery Into Applications for Personalized Medicine

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Applied Biosystems, a division of Life Technologies (NASDAQ:LIFE), and its mass spectrometry joint-venture partner, MDS Analytical Technologies, a business unit of MDS Inc. (TSX:MDS) (NYSE:MDZ), today introduced the AB SCIEX TOF/TOF^™ 5800 System, the fastest, most sensitive MALDI-based mass spectrometer ever built. This system, which is now commercially available, will help researchers advance the discovery of biomarkers to improve the understanding of diseases for potential use in a clinical setting, which is part of the promise of personalized medicine.

The AB SCIEX 5800 System represents a significant advancement in MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight technology), which works by ionizing complex biological samples and identifying the individual protein components by their molecular weight. This system enables researchers to identify up to 30% more proteins at a rate that is 10 times faster than any other MALDI system on the market, thereby setting the highest standard for protein biomarker discovery, MALDI imaging and protein identification. This system, combined with the release of a new processing software application, ProteinPilot^™ 3.0, is part of a complete workflow that accelerates proteomics research.

By expanding the boundaries of protein discovery, the AB SCIEX 5800 System enables scientists to achieve in less than a day what takes more than two weeks on other MALDI-based systems. This system is expected to advance the discovery of new biomarkers that could potentially yield more accurate and sensitive clinical tests in the future, which is a high priority in the medical and scientific communities. The AB SCIEX 5800 System enables the discovery of a wider range of protein biomarkers, enabling scientists to identify and quantify more proteins in complex samples faster than existing systems today.

Laura Lauman, President of Life Technologies Mass Spectrometry Systems Division

“The ability to better understand diseases at the protein level will ultimately improve diagnosis and help to create more effective treatments based on an individual’s expression of specific proteins that relate to a disease or a response to targeted therapies. The AB SCIEX 5800 System delivers innovative, breakthrough technology that provides a giant technological leap forward that will help translate today's biomarker research into tomorrow's personalized medicine.”

Andy Boorn, President of MDS Analytical Technologies

“We have developed the most advanced MALDI mass spectrometer ever built. The AB SCIEX 5800 System is another example of how Applied Biosystems/MDS Analytical Technologies continues to innovate and develop best-in-class instrument systems that form the backbone for complete workflow solutions for biomarker and protein research. This is essential technology for researchers to expand their protein studies.”

Mark Stolowitz, Ph.D., Director of the Proteomics Core Facility at the Canary Center for the Early Detection of Cancer at Stanford University’s School of Medicine

“Mass spectrometry will play a significant role in our efforts at our new center for cancer research in discovery and verification of protein biomarkers, contributing to the realization of personalized medicine, which is closer than many people may think. We chose the AB SCIEX 5800 System as our facility’s first proteomics platform because it enables the breadth of applications we need to hit the ground running. We will use its unique capabilities to address the gap between biomarker discovery and clinical immunoassay to ultimately impact patient care.”

Additional Resources

Video: Introduction of the AB SCIEX 5800 System

Technical details: More information about the AB SCIEX 5800 System

ProteinPilot 3.0 Software: Details of processing application for protein identification and quantitation

Ask the Scientist: Additional information about proteomics workflows & applications

Background: The role of proteomics in personalized medicine

Applied Biosystems/MDS Analytical Technologies Leadership in Mass Spectrometry

Applied Biosystems is a global leader in providing innovative instrument systems to accelerate academic and clinical research, drug discovery and development, pathogen detection and forensic DNA analysis. It is a leading provider of mass spectrometry solutions through its joint venture with MDS Analytical Technologies. Applied Biosystems, along with Invitrogen – a leading provider of platform independent, essential life science technologies for disease and drug research, bioproduction and diagnostics – is part of Life Technologies. Applied Biosystems and Invitrogen products are used in nearly every major laboratory in the world.

For more information, please visit: www.appliedbiosystems.com and www.invitrogen.com.

About Life Technologies

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of more than $3 billion in 2008, employs approximately 9,500 people, has a presence in more than 100 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,600 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc. For more information on how we are making a difference please visit our website: www.lifetechnologies.com.

About MDS Analytical Technologies

MDS Analytical Technologies, a business unit of MDS Inc. (TSX:MDS) (NYSE:MDZ), is focused on the research, design, manufacture and marketing of state-of-the-art tools for mass-spectrometry, drug discovery and bioresearch. MDS Analytical Technologies’ products are designed to help accelerate the complex process of discovering and developing new drug compounds, and are sold to research scientists around the world. The mass-spectrometer product lines are also sold globally through joint ventures with two of the world’s leading analytical instrumentation and life-sciences companies, Life Technologies Corporation and PerkinElmer, Inc. Find out more at www.mdssciex.com or www.moleculardevices.com.

Life Technologies’ Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements about our anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies’ plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words “believe,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “target,” “estimate,” “expect” and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions (“will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Copyright 2009. Life Technologies Corporation. All rights reserved. AB SCIEX 5800 TOF/TOF and ProteinPilot are trademarks of Applied Biosystems/MDS Analytical Technologies, a joint venture between Life Technologies and MDS Inc.