News Release

Life Technologies, TGen and US Oncology partner on groundbreaking breast cancer sequencing research

First-of-its-kind project will sequence difficult breast cancers to provide insight into treatment strategies

Business Announcement

The Translational Genomics Research Institute

CARLSBAD, Calif., PHOENIX, Ariz. and THE WOODLANDS, Texas – March 5, 2010 – Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) today announced that it is collaborating with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and US Oncology to sequence the genomes of 14 patients afflicted with triple negative breast cancer whose tumors have progressed despite multiple other therapies. The goal of this first-of-its-kind research collaboration is to demonstrate whether genomic sequencing of cancer tissue can provide clues for treatment strategies for these individuals.

While genomic sequencing has made great strides in helping researchers understand human disease, its clinical utility is not fully known. This research study brings together the accuracy of the Applied Biosystems SOLiD™ System, with US Oncology's expertise in cancer trials and TGen's Cancer Genome and Oncology programs, to provide additional information for oncologists and their patients. Triple negative tumors, which make up nearly 20 percent of breast cancers, do not respond to treatment with common targeted breast cancer therapies such as Herceptin.

"This study could provide insight into how cancers can be potentially treated in the future," said Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., Physician-in-Chief, Senior Investigator for TGen and Chief Scientific Officer for US Oncology & Scottsdale Healthcare's Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center. "Current clinical trials are aimed at showing how one new drug can be safe and effective across hundreds of people. This study flips that concept by using sequencing data from one individual to evaluate which anti-cancer drugs could be most effective based on normal and tumor genetic makeup. This is truly the definition of genomic medicine."

Cancer is caused by mutations across the genome that affect genes coding for proteins involved in cellular processes. Understanding these mutations and their impact on biological pathways and processes becomes critical in the selection of treatment when cancers are not responsive to conventional anti-cancer therapies.

In this collaboration, US Oncology will help enroll patients in the study to have both tumor and healthy tissue sequenced using the SOLiD system to identify mutations, which will be validated by CLIA-certified Caris Life Sciences. Scientists and oncologists will then leverage this information to more intelligently evaluate potential therapies that target the affected pathways responsible for the cancer.

"Metastatic triple negative breast cancer is an aggressive cancer for which few effective therapies exist," says Joyce O'Shaughnessy, M.D., Co-Chair of the US Oncology Breast Cancer Research Committee, Associate Director for US Oncology clinical research and Co-Director of the Breast Cancer Research Program at Baylor-Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and Texas Oncology, a US Oncology affiliate in Dallas, Texas. "US Oncology has conducted a number of clinical trials aimed at advancing the biologic understanding and therapeutic efficacy for these patients, and we are very excited to have the opportunity to fully sequence patients' triple negative breast cancers towards these ends."

Additionally, scientists from TGen and Life Technologies will collaborate in the development of novel computational and informatics software paving the way for the use of whole genomic sequencing data for querying, identifying and interpreting mutations to provide for more effective therapeutic decisions. These capabilities will potentially have a significant impact on the treatment of cancer and other complex diseases for which numerous targeted therapeutic choices are available.

"Life Technologies' highly accurate SOLiD system is the appropriate tool to carry out this type of study," said Mark Stevenson, President and Chief Operating Officer for Life Technologies. "With an accuracy greater than 99.94 percent, we will be confident that any differences between the tumor DNA and DNA from healthy tissue will be the result of mutations as opposed to errors introduced in the sequencing itself. Life Technologies is proud to be part of such groundbreaking research, which is paving the way for a new paradigm in cancer treatment."

The SOLiD System is used globally in experiments to better understand the genetic nature of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders. Its throughput, accuracy, speed and flexibility allow researchers to generate the high quality data needed for the advancement of molecular medicine.

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About Life Technologies (www.lifetechnologies.com)

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 $3.3 billion in 2009, employs approximately 9,000 people, has a presence in approximately 160 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,900 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc., and manufactures both in-vitro diagnostic products and research use only-labeled products. For more information on how we are making a difference, please visit our website: http://www.lifetechnologies.com.

About TGen

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of translational research where investigators are able to unravel the genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. For more information, visit: www.tgen.org.

About US Oncology

US Oncology, Inc., is the leading oncology services company uniting the nation's largest cancer treatment and research network to expand patient access to high-quality, cost-effective cancer care and advance the science of cancer care. Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, US Oncology enhances patient access to advanced cancer care by providing a broad range of solutions to community oncologists, patients, payers, and the medical industry across all phases of the cancer care research and delivery system. US Oncology deploys innovation, technology, research and the use of evidence-based medicine and shared best practices to improve patient outcomes and offer a better patient experience. For more information, visit www.usoncology.com.

US Oncology conducts clinical research through US Oncology Research, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, and enables the nation's largest community-based research network with experienced investigators and dedicated research nurses specializing in Phase I-IV oncology clinical trials in the United States. US Oncology Research serves more than 80 sites in 200 locations managing more than 90 open trials at any given time. The research network has accrued more than 38,500 patients through more than 680 trials since its inception and has contributed to the development of 39 cancer therapies approved by the FDA.

Life Technologies Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements about Life Technologies 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.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Life Technologies Contact
Tim Ingersoll
760-918-3883
Tim.ingersoll@lifetech.com

TGen Contact
Steve Yozwiak
602-343-8704
syozwiak@tgen.org

US Oncology
Jennifer Horspool
281-863-6739
Jennifer.Horspool@usoncology.com


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