QIAGEN Expands Pipeline of Promising New Biomarkers for Development of Personalized Healthcare Companion Diagnostics

HILDEN, Germany and MARSEILLE, France, May 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• FGFR-TACC fusion genes, the target of potential targeted therapies for glioblastoma and other cancers, rights acquired from Columbia University
• Several lymphoma-related biomarkers, including EZH2 Y641 gene mutations, rights acquired from British Columbia Cancer Agency

QIAGEN N.V. (NASDAQ: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced two agreements adding promising new biomarkers involving glioblastoma, lymphoma and other cancers to QIAGEN's expanding portfolio of potential companion diagnostics that is being developed to help doctors use a patient's genomic information to guide treatment decisions.

In the glioblastoma project, QIAGEN has entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing option on FGFR-TACC fusion genes with Columbia University in New York. QIAGEN intends to develop this biomarker into a diagnostic test for routine use in diagnostic workups, which may enable doctors to identify glioblastoma patients who could benefit from targeted treatments now under development. Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of primary brain tumor, a serious unmet medical need because the disease is generally fatal despite aggressive therapy. Fusions between members of the FGFR and TACC gene families also have been identified recently as present in several other malignancies, including bladder cancers.

QIAGEN has also entered into an exclusive license option with the BC Cancer Agency, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for the EZH2 Y641 mutation biomarker that could serve as a companion diagnostic test for routine selection of patients who could benefit from EZH2 targeted therapies that are currently under development by major pharmaceutical companies.

"The expansion of our portfolio of biomarkers for the development of innovative companion diagnostics is a key focus of QIAGEN. Through Personalized Healthcare, QIAGEN is helping doctors achieve better outcomes for patients and better utilize healthcare resources by targeting the right drugs to the right patients," said Peer M. Schatz, Chief Executive Officer of QIAGEN N.V. "QIAGEN's expertise and solutions spanning the continuum from research to commercialization is driving significant value in Personalized Healthcare - a rapidly growing franchise with $100 million of annual sales. Deep relationships with leading academic centers provide a rich source of biomarkers, as in these latest two agreements. In partnership with top pharmaceutical companies, we are translating genomic discoveries into standardized companion diagnostics to guide the use of targeted drugs. Personalized Healthcare is driving the growth of QIAGEN as molecular information plays an increasingly important role in improving outcomes for patients."

Excellence in Personalized Healthcare

QIAGEN is a leading partner globally in developing and validating companion diagnostics to guide the selection of medicines in treating cancer and other diseases. In July 2012, QIAGEN received FDA approval for the therascreen^® KRAS RGQ PCR Kit as a companion diagnostic in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The U.S. rollout of therascreen KRAS builds on a strong global leadership position including successes in Japan, where regulators approved the therascreen KRAS and EGFR kits in 2011, and in Europe, where QIAGEN offers 10 CE-marked assays for personalized healthcare applications. QIAGEN has more than 15 projects under way to co-develop and market companion diagnostics with leading Pharma and biotech companies.

About QIAGEN

QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample & Assay Technologies that are used to transform biological materials into valuable molecular information. Sample technologies are used to isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from biological samples such as blood or tissue. Assay technologies are then used to make these isolated biomolecules visible and ready for interpretation. QIAGEN markets more than 500 products around the world, selling both consumable kits and automation systems to customers through four customer classes: Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare), Applied Testing (forensics, veterinary testing and food safety), Pharma (pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies) and Academia (life sciences research). As of March 31, 2013, QIAGEN employed approximately 4,000 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at http://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, including without limitation its expected operating 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 in  applied testing, personalized healthcare, clinical research,  proteomics, women's health/HPV testing and  nucleic acid-based  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, the consummation of acquisitions, 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).

Contacts:

Public Relations:
Dr. Thomas Theuringer
Director Public Relations
+49-2103-29-11826
+1-240-686-7425
Email: [email protected]

http://www.twitter.com/qiagen
http://www.qiagen.com/About-Us/Press-and-Media/

Investor Relations:
John Gilardi
VP Corporate Communications
+49-2103-29-11711
+1-240-686-2222

Peter Vozzo
Director, Global Investor Relations
+1-240-686-7400
Email: [email protected]

http://www.qiagen.com/About-Us/Investors/

SOURCE Qiagen N.V.