PE Biosystems Group, a PE Corporation business, and Paradigm Genetics, Inc. announced today that they have signed a five-year collaborative research agreement to develop bioinformatics software for functional genomics. The agreement is expected to facilitate a relationship designed to leverage Paradigm Genetics' experience in agricultural genomics with PE Informatics' information management systems and bioinformatics platform. PE Informatics is a Division of PE Biosystems.

Current bioinformatics solutions allow analysis and comparison of sequence information. However, a comprehensive, integrated information system for sample and process management is currently not available. Such a system would include data reduction processes in a heterogeneous, multi-instrument, multi-protocol functional genomics/proteomics laboratory. The goal of the collaboration is to develop a comprehensive software infrastructure and query tools for organizing, accessing, and analyzing the large amounts of information associated with a gene sequence that is necessary in order to understand the function of a gene and gene product in an organism.

"As an agricultural genomics company, Paradigm identifies genes in plants and observes the effects of manipulating those genes on the health, yield, and nutritional qualities of the plant. Our ability to manage this information about genes and their roles in plants is critical to our success,'' said Dr. John Ryals, CEO of Paradigm Genetics. "For each gene we identify, we record hundreds of pieces of information about the effects of that gene. It is essential that we be able to track this information and recognize significant patterns that will allow us to identify genes that may be important targets for pesticides and plant improvement. This collaboration will allow Paradigm to focus its resources on collecting this biological information about plant and fungal genes and leverage that information with PE Informatics' infrastructure and tools for managing genomic knowledge.''

According to Bob Jones, vice president and general manager of PE Informatics, "An integrated,
complete solution for managing information is essential for success in genomics. This collaboration gives us the opportunity to continue development of a solid bioinformatics platform coupled with integrated tools for data management and analysis that take us to the next level in genomics - the ability to associate character traits to gene sequences. Paradigm's experience in determining genetic effects and identifying gene function combined with our unique expertise in instrumentation data flow and information management should lead to powerful innovations in knowledge management for genomic discovery.''

As part of the collaboration, PE Informatics will design software to expand development of its
information management systems and bioinformatics platform. Paradigm will test and use the systems as a foundation for its proprietary database AgDB(TM) and further refine the software in conjunction with PE Informatics. Both parties will have access to intellectual property on software developed from the collaboration.

PE Corporation currently comprises two operating groups. PE Biosystems Group, with sales of
$940 million during fiscal 1998, develops and markets instrument-based systems, reagents, software, and contract-related services to the life science industry and research community. Its PE Informatics Division provides integrated bioinformatics software solutions and services to accelerate the discovery, development, and manufacturing process. The Analytical Instruments business, which the company has reached agreement to sell, is reported as a discontinued operation within PE Biosystems. Celera Genomics Group, a newly formed business unit, intends to become the definitive source of genomic and related medical information.

Paradigm Genetics, Inc. uses functional genomics and bioinformatics to enhance worldwide food and fiber production. This is achieved through the discovery of better and safer compounds to protect crops against weeds, diseases and insect pests; improving the quality of seed germ plasm through the development of more efficient breeding tools; and discovering new and valuable genes for use in transgenic crops.

Company news release
N1826