Whatman and QIAGEN Announce Distribution Agreement for FTA Products

VENLO, THE NETHERLANDS and BRENTFORD, UK -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 21, 2007 -- QIAGEN (Nasdaq: QGEN, Frankfurt, Prime Standard: QIA), the worldwide leading provider of sample and assay technologies for research in life sciences, applied testing and molecular diagnostics and Whatman (WHM.L), a global leader in separation and life science enabling technologies, today announced a non-exclusive distribution partnership that provides QIAGEN with the right to market and sell Whatman FTA® and FTA-based kits to all QIAGEN's target markets including life science research, molecular diagnostics and applied testing.

The agreement provides QIAGEN with distribution rights for existing Whatman FTA products as well as customized products. As part of the agreement, QIAGEN will pay Whatman an initial fee that grants QIAGEN non-exclusive distribution rights. In addition, royalties will be paid by QIAGEN to Whatman on the sale of all products that incorporate the use of FTA. Other financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Whatman's FTA technology has created a standard in the field of collection, storage and release of DNA and has a wide range of potential applications including forensics, pharmacogenomics, biobanking and genomics research. Whatman's FTA products are composed of a chemically-treated matrix that lyses cells and immobilises nucleic acids on contact, enabling scientists to collect, transport, archive and release nucleic acids at room temperature using an easy to perform protocol.

Whatman's FTA technology is highly synergistic with QIAGEN's sample preparation product portfolio. The addition of FTA has the potential to broaden QIAGEN's value proposition for QIAGEN's customers in key markets. Nucleic acids stored on FTA and purified with QIAGEN's sample preparation products are well suited for downstream applications such as QIAGEN's PCR-based genotyping, molecular testing products and comparative genomic studies. FTA has also been shown to be compatible with QIAGEN's whole genome amplification technology (WGA) for DNA replication currently used in many biobanking applications.

"Whatman is a well established leader in paper-based nucleic acid storage solutions in fields such as forensics, agricultural and environmental ID where easy to use technologies and long term stability are important for customers," said Peer M. Schatz, QIAGEN's Chief Executive Officer. "This is an important and synergistic addition to QIAGEN's product offering in areas such as molecular diagnostics, pharmacogenomics, and biobanking. We believe that the combination of FTA-technologies and QIAGEN technologies allows a very appealing, complete and synchronized workflow for our and Whatman's customers."

"We are delighted to announce this distribution agreement with QIAGEN. QIAGEN's market and technology leadership in genomics research makes it an ideal partner for our FTA technology in this market", said Kieran Murphy, Whatman's CEO. "This agreement strengthens our reach into valuable segments and will help us realise the potential of this breakthrough DNA collection and storage technology by expanding market access for FTA products through QIAGEN's established presence in the laboratory and pharmaceutical sectors."

About Whatman:

A global leader in separations technology, Whatman provides innovative life science products and solutions for the scientific community. Whatman has developed total sample preparation solutions through our robust line of filtration devices and membranes. Our breakthrough protein array technology, coupled with unique innovations in capturing, archiving and purifying DNA at room temperature, enable us to provide novel solutions for the analytical, health care, and bioscience markets. For more information visit us at www.whatman.com.

About QIAGEN:

QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding company is the leading provider of innovative sample and assay technologies and products. QIAGEN's products are considered standards in areas such pre-analytical sample preparation and assay solutions in research for life sciences, applied testing and molecular diagnostics. QIAGEN has developed a comprehensive portfolio of more than 500 proprietary, consumable products and automated solutions for sample collection, nucleic acid and protein handling, separation, and purification and open and target specific assays. The company's products are sold to academic research markets, to leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, to applied testing customers (such as in forensics, veterinary, biodefense and industrial applications) as well as to molecular diagnostics laboratories. QIAGEN employs more than 1,900 people worldwide. QIAGEN products are sold through a dedicated sales force and a global network of distributors in more than 40 countries. In this press release QIAGEN is using the term molecular diagnostics. The use of this term is in reference to certain countries, such as the United States, limited to products subject to regulatory requirements. Current QIAGEN molecular diagnostics products are 34 EU CE IVD assays, six EU CE IVD sample preparation products, one 510k PAX RNA product, nine China SFDA IVD assays and 98 general purpose reagents. Further information about QIAGEN can be found at www.qiagen.com.

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 U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. To the extent that any of the statements contained herein relating to QIAGEN's products, markets, strategy or operating results 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, risks associated with management of growth and international operations (including the effects of currency fluctuations and risks of dependency on logistics), variability of operating results, the commercial development of the applied testing markets, clinical research markets and proteomics markets, nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostics market, and genetic vaccination and gene therapy markets, competition, rapid or unexpected changes in technologies, fluctuations in demand for QIAGEN's, products (including fluctuations due to the level and timing of customers' funding, budgets, and other factors), our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our infectious disease panels, difficulties in successfully adapting QIAGEN's products to integrated solutions and producing such products, the ability of QIAGEN to identify and develop new products and to differentiate its products from competitors' products, market acceptance of QIAGEN's new products and the integration of acquired technologies and businesses. For further information, refer to the discussions in reports that QIAGEN has filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

Contact Information: Contacts: Whatman Plc. Financial Dynamics David Yates / Anna Keeble +44 20 7831 3113 Dr. Solveigh Mahler Director Investor Relations QIAGEN N.V. +49 2103 29 11710 e-mail: Email Contact Dr. Thomas Theuringer Manager Public Relations QIAGEN GmbH +49 2103 29 11826 e-mail: Email Contact