QIAGEN Expands QIAstat-Dx Operations with New Innovation Hub in Barcelona

QIAGEN Expands QIAstat-Dx Operations with New Innovation Hub in Barcelona

(IN BRIEF) QIAGEN is investing in a new innovation hub in Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, to enhance its QIAstat-Dx syndromic testing platform. Opening in 2026, the 8,000-square-meter site will house operations across research, manufacturing, and regulatory functions, focusing on advancing diagnostics for infectious diseases and expanding into precision medicine applications through partnerships with Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca. The facility will meet LEED Platinum standards for sustainability and support innovations like expanded pathogen panels and applications for chronic diseases. Barcelona’s robust scientific ecosystem and local expertise strengthen QIAGEN’s position in global diagnostics and precision medicine.

(PRESS RELEASE) BARCELONA/VENLO, 30-Nov-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — QIAGEN has unveiled plans to establish a state-of-the-art site in Esplugues de Llobregat, near Barcelona, as part of its multi-year investment strategy to enhance the QIAstat-Dx business. The 8,000-square-meter facility, set to open in early 2026, will serve as a global innovation hub for QIAstat-Dx, a cutting-edge syndromic testing platform used to identify illnesses such as respiratory, gastrointestinal, and meningitis/encephalitis conditions.

This expansion underscores QIAGEN’s commitment to advancing diagnostic capabilities, not only for infectious diseases but also for precision medicine applications. The QIAstat-Dx platform is being developed to support emerging partnerships with pharmaceutical leaders Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca, enabling rapid genotyping during routine clinical care to identify patients suitable for genomically targeted treatments.

The Esplugues de Llobregat site will house end-to-end operations for QIAstat-Dx, including research and development, manufacturing, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, sales, and marketing. It will also serve as a center of excellence for microfluidics, system development, and assay innovation. The facility is designed to meet the highest environmental standards, achieving LEED Platinum Certification for energy efficiency and incorporating advanced digitalized production lines.

Expanding QIAstat-Dx’s Role in Diagnostics
QIAstat-Dx gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing rapid, actionable results to healthcare providers. Building on this success, QIAGEN is expanding its diagnostic pipeline to include a wider range of pathogens and new applications, such as blood culture identification and urinary tract infection diagnostics. The system uses cost-effective, single-use cartridges with integrated sample processing and multiplex PCR technology, delivering results in about an hour with detailed cycle threshold (Ct) values for deeper insights.

Currently, four QIAstat-Dx panels have received FDA clearance, while two panels are CE-marked under Europe’s new IVDR regulations. The system’s growing footprint in infectious disease testing will be further strengthened by innovations aimed at addressing chronic and genetically driven diseases, including neurodegenerative, metabolic, and inflammatory conditions.

Strategic Location and Local Expertise
Barcelona was chosen for its vibrant ecosystem of scientific talent, universities, research institutions, and a thriving life sciences industry. QIAGEN will also leverage local expertise, as QIAstat-Dx technology originated from a Barcelona-based startup acquired by QIAGEN in 2018.

Leadership Perspectives
“QIAstat-Dx proved invaluable during the pandemic, demonstrating the power of syndromic testing to deliver critical information quickly,” said Thierry Bernard, CEO of QIAGEN. “This new site strengthens our ability to innovate and expand the platform’s potential, addressing a broader range of healthcare challenges while maintaining our commitment to sustainability.”

The new hub will enable QIAGEN to meet growing demand for rapid diagnostics in hospitals, clinics, and decentralized settings worldwide, further consolidating its leadership in syndromic testing and precision medicine.

For more information, visit QIAGEN’s QIAstat-Dx page.

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) and Life Sciences (academia, pharma R&D and industrial applications, primarily forensics). As of September 30, 2024, QIAGEN employed more than 5,800 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at https://www.qiagen.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

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, timing for launch and development, marketing and/or regulatory approvals, financial and operational outlook, growth and expansion, 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; actions of governments, global or regional economic developments, weather or transportation delays, natural disasters, political or public health crises, and its impact on the demand for our products and other aspects of our business, or other force majeure events; as well as the possibility that expected benefits related to recent or pending acquisitions may not materialize as expected; and the other factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F. 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.

Media Contacts:

Lisa Specht
Manager Public Relations
Germany: +49 2103 29 14181
Mobile: +49 152 01811381
lisa.specht@qiagen.com

Dr. Thomas Theuringer
Senior Director Corporate Communications & Head Of External Communications
Germany: +49 2103 29 11826
Mobile: +49 1520 18 11826
thomas.theuringer@qiagen.com

SOURCE: QIAGEN