QIAGEN N.V. forms joint venture with Maccura Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a leading in vitro diagnostics (IVD) company in China

Partnership with a leading Chinese IVD company with goal to accelerate penetration of the world’s first complete Sample to Insight NGS solution in rapidly growing Chinese market

Hilden, Germany, and Chengdu, China, 08-May-2017 — /EuropaWire/ — QIAGEN N.V. (NASDAQ: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced the formation of a joint venture with Maccura Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a leading in vitro diagnostics (IVD) company in China. The joint venture, named MAQGEN plans to accelerate local adaptations, development and commercialization of the GeneReader NGS System in the rapidly growing clinical and clinical research markets in China. QIAGEN’s GeneReader NGS System is the world’s first complete Sample to Insight solution and makes the benefits of next-generation sequencing (NGS) accessible to any laboratory.

“We are very pleased to have formed this partnership with Maccura. The creation of MAQGEN lays the foundation to significantly accelerate and expand the availability of the GeneReader system in laboratories across China, thereby offering a state-of-the-art, seamlessly integrated NGS workflow with menu and other adaptations for the local market. China is the fastest-growing NGS market, and Maccura is China’s fastest-growing major IVD company. Our strategy to work ‘In China, With China, For China’ will boost both companies’ presence in the IVD market in China,” said Thierry Bernard, Senior Vice President and Head of QIAGEN’s Molecular Diagnostics Business Area. “Maccura and QIAGEN share similar cultures of innovation and commitment to solutions focused on actionable insights. Maccura has deep expertise in IVD development and regulatory affairs in the Chinese market, as well as an extensive partner and distribution network; QIAGEN brings global experience and advanced technology solutions targeting the needs of NGS users.”

“Creating this joint venture is a win-win for both companies and, most importantly, for Chinese customers and innovation. We will develop and commercialize the GeneReader NGS System, including the current and future gene panels in oncology, and further innovate as the joint venture develops additional assays designed specifically for China,” said Yong Tang, Chairman and General Manager of Maccura Biotechnology. “The Sample to Insight GeneReader NGS solution offers significant benefits for more than 6,500 current and prospective customers, particularly in class III hospital networks. Next-generation sequencing in China has entered a phase of exponential growth as the technology moves into clinical trials to develop diagnostic applications. The joint venture will market the GeneReader NGS System initially for research use only (RUO) and pursue appropriate regulatory paths to maximize its value.”

Use of next-generation sequencing is growing rapidly in China, particularly for personalized medicine and clinical research in oncology and other fields. In 2016 the country launched the China Precision Medicine Initiative, a 15-year, $9.2 billion drive to apply genomic insights, with extensive use of NGS, to discover and develop new treatments for cancer and other diseases. Cancer is a major public health problem and the leading cause of death in China. An estimated 4.3 million new cancer cases were diagnosed and more than 2.8 million cancer deaths occurred in China in 2015, the latest year for which statistics are available. Both incidence and mortality are growing, leading to an extensive public and private response.

The joint venture will be based in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Maccura will own 60% of the joint venture and QIAGEN will own 40%. QIAGEN’s own operations in China will continue as a stand-alone company, supporting and promoting its full range of other products and services for molecular diagnostics and life science customers.

The GeneReader NGS System provides the first true Sample to Insight NGS workflow. The system’s integrated bioinformatics for analysis and interpretation of NGS data, as well as a family of gene panels under the GeneRead QIAact brand to enable laboratories to identify gene variations linked to cancers and to deliver actionable molecular insights. The capabilities of this unique system also include high-sensitivity detection in liquid biopsy samples, compatibility with the QIAsymphony automation platform for high-throughput sample processing, and software integration with leading Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).

About Maccura
Maccura Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a leading Chinese in vitro diagnostics company, is headquartered in Chengdu, China. Maccura’s IVD products include five platforms: clinical chemistry, immunoassays, rapid diagnostic tests, hematology and molecular diagnostics. With its corporate mission, “Science & Technology Serve Human Health,” Maccura is committed to developing the best IVD products for human health.  In 20 years, the company has built a first-class R&D and manufacturing capability that can design and develop fully automated clinical laboratory assay systems and diagnostic assays on many platforms. Maccura’s portfolio includes 285 regulated products in China. Maccura has approximately 1,500 employees in more than 20 locations. Maccura stock is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (300463). For further information please visit: www.maccura.com.

About QIAGEN
QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands-based holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions that enable customers to gain valuable molecular insights from samples containing the building blocks of life. Our sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights. Automation solutions tie these together in seamless and cost-effective workflows. QIAGEN provides solutions to more than 500,000 customers around the world in Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare), Applied Testing (forensics, veterinary testing and food safety), Pharma (pharma and biotech companies) and Academia (life sciences research). As of December 31, 2016, QIAGEN employed approximately 4,700 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at http://www.qiagen.com.

Certain statements contained in this press 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, collaborations markets, strategy or operating results, including without limitation its expected adjusted net sales and adjusted diluted earnings results, are forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions 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, regulatory processes and dependence on logistics), variability of operating results and allocations between customer classes, the commercial development of markets for our products to customers in academia, pharma, applied testing and molecular diagnostics; changing relationships with customers, suppliers and strategic partners; competition; rapid or unexpected changes in technologies; fluctuations in demand for QIAGEN’s products (including fluctuations due to general economic conditions, the level and timing of customers’ funding, budgets and other factors); our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our products; 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 and protect our products from competitors’ products; market acceptance of QIAGEN’s new products and the integration of acquired technologies and businesses. For further information, please refer to the discussions in reports that QIAGEN has filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

SOURCE:  QIAGEN

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