QIAGEN and Epigenomics Expand Successul Partnership

QIAGEN N.V. and Epigenomics AG have announced that the companies further expanded their existing strategic partnership by a new license agreement.

This new collaboration expands already existing licensing agreements announced in 2005 and now provides QIAGEN with the exclusive world-wide rights to Epigenomics' sample technologies for use in applied testing and in in vitro molecular diagnostics.

Epigenomics retains rights to these technologies for use in its own or partnered development projects and for the commercialization of in vitro molecular diagnostic products via a non-exclusive back-license from QIAGEN.

As part of the agreement, Epigenomics will receive an up-front fee and further milestone payments and royalties. Further financial terms were not disclosed.

"We expect DNA methylation technology to play an important role in key segments of the fast growing molecular diagnostics market such as in cancer screening. QIAGEN provides a complete portfolio of standardized technologies and solutions for epigenetic testing, from sample technologies such as DNA sample collection, stabilization, purification and bisulfite conversion to assay technologies such as PCR- and sequencing- based methods for DNA methylation analysis," said Peer Schatz, Chief Executive Officer of QIAGEN.

"We are pleased with our partnership with Epigenomics, a leader in DNA methylation technology. The combination of the capabilities of both companies is setting strong standards for the use of the exciting epigenetic technologies in research, applied testing and molecular diagnostics."