Press Release

For Advion:
Laura Cima
Advion BioSciences, Inc.
607.266.0665 x201
cimal@advion.com

Media Contact:
Yvonne Blaxter
Versaggi Biocommunications
415.397.3087
cv@versaggibio.com

September 2, 2003

Advion BioSciences and Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX to Co-Market Automated Chip-Based Nanoelectrospray to Life Science Market: Third Milestone Agreement in Advion's Global Market Initiative

September 2, 2003 — Advion BioSciences Inc., a provider of mass spectrometry (MS) services and products to the pharmaceutical industry, today announced a non-exclusive agreement with Applera Corporation, through its Applied Biosystems Group (NYSE:ABI), to jointly promote Advion BioSciences and Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX electrospray mass spectrometry products to the life science research market. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX is an instrument partnership between Applied Biosystems Group and MDS Inc. (TSE:MDS; NYSE:MDZ).

The announcement was made at the 16th International Mass Spectrometry Conference, held August 31st through September 5th at the Edinburgh International Conference Center.

Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly market and co-promote their complementary products and Advion will ensure compatibility of its NanoMate™ 100 automated chip-based nanoelectrospray system with Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX mass spectrometers, including the API 3000™ and 4000™ LC/MS/MS Systems, the 4000 QTRAP™ LC/MS/MS System, and the QSTAR® XL Hybrid LC/MS/MS System. These systems are used to identify and quantitate proteins and small molecules in drug discovery and development applications. Advion will provide sales, installation, support and service for its NanoMate systems.

The co-marketing agreement is part of Advion’s global market initiative to introduce the benefits of automated nanoelectrospray through strategic alliances with leading mass spectrometry instrument manufacturers. Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX has the largest worldwide installed base of dedicated liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and LC/MS/MS systems.

“We believe Advion's NanoMate 100 and ESI Chip™ system will further enhance the versatility and performance of Applied Biosystems/MDS SCIEX electrospray mass spectrometers, and provide a powerful analytical combination for life science researchers,” said Jack Henion, Ph.D., Advion’s president and CEO.

Automated Nanoelectrospray Provides Control of Both Analysis Speed and Data Quality
Advion’s NanoMate 100 robotic system and disposable ESI Chip allow users to take full advantage of the capabilities of electrospray mass spectrometry for life science applications. The NanoMate system enables a user to either speed analysis for increased throughput for small molecule and peptide mapping applications, or increase acquisition time for proteomics and metabolite identification applications where greater sample information is required. Key advantages include higher sample throughput, low sample consumption, high sensitivity, reduced analysis cost and the ability to derive meaningful information from a very small sample.

About Advion BioSciences Inc.
Founded in 1993, Advion BioSciences Inc., of Ithaca, N.Y., with a wholly-owned subsidiary in the United Kingdom, is a provider of mass spectrometry services to the pharmaceutical industry, and a developer of automated, chip-based technology designed to boost the sensitivity, data quality and sample throughput for electrospray mass spectrometers. The privately held company operates one of the world's largest LC/MS contract research facilities. Advion's clients include 13 of the top 15 pharmaceutical companies. For more information see www.advion.com.