Expanded IP portfolio includes rapidly growing HRM applications for
all markets and applications
Venlo, The Netherlands, September 17, 2009 --- QIAGEN (NASDAQ: QGEN;
Frankfurt, Prime Standard: QIA), today announced that it has acquired
additional licenses from Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) and Idaho
Technology related to the use of instrumentation and reagents for
PCR-based molecular testing. Financial details were not disclosed.
The agreements cover thermal cycler rights and real-time polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) methods for diagnostics and all other
applications. In addition, the agreements also cover rights for "high
resolution melting curve analysis" (HRM) technology. This novel PCR
technology, which is well leveraged by QIAGEN's detection platform
Rotor-Gene(TM) Q, opens up a broad array of applications such as
mutation discovery, pathogen detection and methylation analysis, as
it adds a further information dimension into traditional real time
PCR.
With these agreements QIAGEN becomes the first Idaho Technology/
Roche licensee to have full freedom to offer HRM related instruments
and reagents under license in all formats and for all purposes in
research and diagnostics worldwide. The agreements complement
previous settlement arrangements following QIAGEN's 2008 acquisition
of Australian PCR cycler manufacturer Corbett.
"This additional IP portfolio enables us to develop and market PCR
solutions based on of the most advanced technologies for molecular
diagnostics. HRM allows additional differentiation for genotyping and
can be extremely well leveraged on our Rotor-Gene(TM) Q HRM
instrument", said Achim Ribbe, Executive Director Business
Development for QIAGEN. "We now have a PCR intellectual property
estate that we believe is truly unique. It puts us in the position to
offer our customers in molecular diagnostics, pharma, applied testing
and life science research the latest PCR technology running on the
most versatile platform and covering all markets and fields,
including human in vitro diagnostics."
QIAGEN also announced it has already launched and is currently
releasing new HRM products capitalizing on the complete license
portfolio as well as QIAGEN's own intellectual property, including a
range of HRM PCR Kits and a new software solution for HRM based
genotyping. The Company is preparing submissions of the Rotor-Gene Q
and related sample and assay technologies for regulatory approval in
both the US and Europe.
About Thermal Cyclers and PCR:
Thermal cyclers are the key instruments for performing polymerase
chain reactions (PCR). PCR, used in life science and molecular
diagnostics, is a process in which a segment of a nucleic acid (DNA
or RNA) is copied or "amplified" so that the nucleic acid can be more
readily analyzed. In real-time PCR, the amplified DNA is detected
during, rather than at the end of, the PCR process, a feature that
facilitates greater accuracy in important applications, including
pathogen detection, gene expression quantization and genotyping. In
2008, QIAGEN acquired Corbett, manufacturer of the Rotor-Gene system,
which is considered to be one of the world's most versatile and
high-performance PCR systems, which provides unmatched temperature
uniformity and supports the broadest range of applications including
advanced technologies such as HRM.
About QIAGEN:
QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding company, is the
leading global provider of sample and assay technologies. Sample
technologies are used to isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins
from biological samples such as blood or tissue. Assay technologies
are used to make such isolated biomolecules visible. QIAGEN has
developed and markets more than 500 sample and assay products as well
as automated solutions for such consumables. The company provides its
products to molecular diagnostics laboratories, academic researchers,
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and applied
testing customers for purposes such as forensics, animal or food
testing and pharmaceutical process control. QIAGEN's assay
technologies include one of the broadest panels of molecular
diagnostic tests available worldwide. This panel includes the digene
HPV Test, which is regarded as the "gold standard" in testing for
high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of
cervical cancer. QIAGEN employs more than 3,150 people in over 30
locations worldwide. Further information about QIAGEN can be found at
http://www.qiagen.com/.
Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts
are forward-looking statements, including statements about our
products, markets, strategy and operating results. Such statements
are based on current expectations that involve risks and
uncertainties including, but not limited to, those associated with:
management of growth and international operations (including currency
fluctuations and logistics), variability of our operating results,
commercial development of our markets (including applied testing,
clinical and academic research, proteomics, women's health/HPV
testing and molecular diagnostics), our relationships with customers,
suppliers and strategic partners, competition, changes in technology,
fluctuations in demand, regulatory requirements, identifying,
developing and producing integrated products differentiated from our
competitors' products, market acceptance of our products, and
integration of acquired technologies and businesses. For further
information, refer to our filings with the SEC, including our latest
Form 20-F. Information in this release is as of the date of the
release, and we undertake no duty to update this information unless
required by law.
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Contacts:
Dr. Solveigh Mähler Dr. Thomas Theuringer
Director Investor Relations Associate Director Public Relations
QIAGEN N.V. QIAGEN GmbH
+49 2103 29 11710 +49 2103 29 11826
Albert F. Fleury
Investor Relations North America
QIAGEN N.V.
+1 301 944 7028
email: ir@qiagen.com email: pr@qiagen.com
This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is
solely responsible for the content of this announcement.