Whatman and QIAGEN Announce Distribution Agreement for FTA Products
Whatman FTA Agreement Significantly Expands QIAGEN's Sample Technologies Portfolio in the Field of Nucleic Acid Storage
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