Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1996. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019 - Friday, 8 November 1996.
DNA and RNA purification is a central procedure in molecular biology research and nucleic acid-based clinical diagnostics. RNA-based diagnostics depend on the availability of intact RNA, which rapidly degrades in the absence of a protective agent. Cationic detergents stabilize samples, increasing the reliability and potential of nucleic acid-based clinical diagnostics, in particular assays based on RNA which is highly unstable. Cationic detergent technology also allows for efficient purification of nucleic acids and is ideal for a clinical environment since it is nonhazardous.
"This transaction brings an extremely strong technology portfolio and a whole new platform to QIAGEN," said Dr. Metin Colpan, Chief Executive Officer of QIAGEN N.V. "We are extremely excited about the strategic advantage this technology creates for QIAGEN's product line for nucleic acid purification in clinical diagnostic settings. The acquisition reflects QIAGEN's commitment to expand its leadership position in nucleic acid purification for clinical diagnostic applications."
The acquired technology portfolio not only enhances QIAGEN's technology base for some of its sample preparation applications, but also provides a method for the stabilization of clinical samples. QIAGEN expects the technology's qualities will be very attractive in the blood banking and infectious disease diagnostic markets.
QIAGEN also announced that Dr. Donald E. Macfarlane, the key inventor of this technology platform, Professor of Medicine at the University of Iowa and President of Iowa Biotechnology Corporation, has agreed to join QIAGEN's board of scientific consultants. Dr. Macfarlane has extensive experience and knowledge in the field of nucleic acid purification using cationic detergents and is the author of many scientific publications in this and other fields.
"I believe that cationic detergent technology will have a tremendous impact on nucleic acid-based clinical diagnostics, particularly those based on RNA," said Dr. Macfarlane. "This technology fits very well into the clinical environment, because it does not use hazardous reagents to isolate and stabilize intact RNA from clinical specimens. This technology has the potential to greatly facilitate and accelerate the development and implementation of RNA-based diagnostics. There will be applications for this technology in many clinical areas, including testing for infectious diseases, and to increase the safety of blood transfusions by screening donations for viruses such as HCV, HGV/GBV, and HIV. In addition, the monitoring of viral RNA loads is considered a necessary and valuable method of measuring the efficacy of specific anti-viral treatments. Analysis of mRNA can also be used to study and detect a variety of leukemias and inflammatory diseases. I am very glad that QIAGEN shares my views about the potential applications for this technology, and I look forward to participating in bringing this technology to the market place."
"We are proud that this technology will be transferred to a firm with the market strength of QIAGEN," said Bruce Wheaton, Executive Director of the University of Iowa Research Foundation. "Our goal is to maximize the availability of technology developed at the University of Iowa. QIAGEN's distinctive research capacity and its standing in the marketplace make it an ideal partner to push the cationic detergent technology to its full potential."
QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding company with subsidiaries in Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, and Australia, believes it is the world's leading provider of innovative enabling technologies and products for the separation and purification of nucleic acids. The Company has developed a comprehensive portfolio of more than 200 proprietary, consumable products for nucleic acid separation and purification, as well as automated instrumentation and related services. QIAGEN's products are sold in more than 30 countries throughout the world to academic research markets and also to the leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. In addition, QIAGEN is positioning its products for sale in developing commercial markets, including DNA sequencing and genomics, nucleic acid-based diagnostics, and genetic vaccination and gene therapy.
Certain of the statements contained in this news release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. To the extent that any of the statements contained herein relating to QIAGEN's products and markets are forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Such uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the commercial development of the DNA sequencing and genomics markets, nucleic acid-based diagnostics market, and genetic vaccination and gene therapy markets, competition, rapid or unexpected changes in technologies, demand for QIAGEN's products, and the Company's ability to identify and develop new products and to differentiate its products from competitors. For further information, refer to the discussion in QIAGEN's Registration Statement on Form F-1 and in other documents that the Company files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
CONTACT: Peer M. Schatz, Chief Financial Officer of QIAGEN N.V., 011-49-2103-892-214, or e-mail: p.schatz@QIAGEN.de; Barbara Lindheim, investors, ext. 237, or Rich Tammero, media, ext.222, of Noonan-Russo Communications, Inc., 212-696-4455, e-mail: news@noonanrusso.com/ 07:30 EST
Copyright (c) 1996/PR NewsWire. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, PR Newswire, 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
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