- Goal set to exceed $140 million of NGS-related sales in 2018, up from over $115 million in 2017
- New Enterprise Genomics Services to offer gene panel customization capabilities to customers
- GeneReader NGS System plans include enhanced chemistry, more powerful gene panels
Hilden, Germany, and Germantown, Maryland, January 8, 2018 – QIAGEN N.V. (NASDAQ: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced a range of product and service enhancements to its next-generation sequencing (NGS) portfolio, which offers universal solutions for use with any NGS sequencer as well as the GeneReader NGS System*, the world’s first complete Sample to Insight solution based on proprietary chemistry that makes the benefits of NGS accessible to any laboratory. QIAGEN has set a goal to exceed $140 million in 2018 sales from this portfolio, up from over $115 million in 2017.
These initiatives, which include the launch of a new Enterprise Genomics Services offering to customers for the customization of gene panels, are designed to add momentum to QIAGEN’s rapidly growing presence in NGS, a technology that is enabling valuable molecular insights along the continuum from basic academic research to routine clinical healthcare.
“QIAGEN’s presence in next-generation sequencing continues to grow at a strong double-digit rate for sales, fueled by innovative solutions for faster and better results on any NGS platform as well as by the rapid adoption of our GeneReader NGS System,” said Peer M. Schatz, Chief Executive Officer of QIAGEN N.V. “Our expansion plans for 2018 include the rapid scale-up of the new Enterprise Genomics Services, which will help customers to accelerate and de-risk the development of new gene panels that are essential for the migration of biomedical findings from discovery to implementation in clinical healthcare. We also have extensive growth plans for our successful GeneReader system with the introduction of the new, proprietary third-generation chemistry and a series of new gene panels based on our proprietary Digital NGS technology.”
QIAGEN has recently expanded its NGS portfolio to include an Enterprise Genomics Services (EGS) capability to serve the growing demand for customization of gene panels with integrated bioinformatics solutions for dedicated applications. This capability leverages QIAGEN’s best-in-class assets, application expertise and skills to enable highly scalable customization of NGS panels with QIAGEN’s industry-leading bioinformatics, for complete solution implementation. QIAGEN can now provide customers with significant efficiencies across the continuum from NGS discovery to panel development, optimization, verification and implementation. This new EGS capability delivers substantial benefits in implementation time, expense and risk mitigation over in-house development. QIAGEN can support NGS solutions for any NGS platform, including the GeneReader NGS System.
QIAGEN also announced several enhancements for the GeneReader NGS System planned in 2018:
- An upgraded new GeneReader NGS chemistry is set for launch based on proprietary formulations, and will enable increased output and will be further optimized for use also with QIAGEN’s proprietary “Digital NGS” technology that allows for the highest level of unbiased, accurate quantification of DNA, RNA and miRNA. Digital NGS leverages a novel Unique Molecular Index (UMI) technology that enables more accurate quantification and detection of molecular variants, and efficiently recognizes and eliminates false positive results. This technology, which has already been made available in QIAGEN’s QIAseq range of gene panels for use on any NGS sequencer, offers advanced primer design and proprietary assay chemistry that enables reliable detection of even extremely rare (low-frequency) mutations.
- Building on the gene panel menu expansion during 2017, a new gene panel – the GeneRead QIAact Myeloid panel – is planned to be launched in early 2018 for use in leukemia, and covering all relevant genetic variants for a number of myeloid malignancies.
- QIAGEN is ramping up the availability of the GeneReader QIAact Custom Panels for use on the GeneReader NGS System. These panels will be upgraded for use with the third-generation chemistry and can be designed to detect all types of genetic variants such as Single-Nucleotide Variants (SNVs), Insertion-Deletions (InDels), Copy Number Variants (CNVs) and gene fusions. As an integral part of the Sample to Insight NGS solution, and like all of the pre-designed panels, the GeneRead QIAact Custom panels are supported by the bioinformatics platforms QCI Analyze and QCI Interpret, allowing seamless sequence data analysis and interpretation within a complete workflow.
- Upgraded versions of two important gene panels – the GeneRead QIAact BRCA 1/2 panel and the GeneReader QIAact Actionable Insights Tumor Panel FPPE panel – are planned with the addition of further relevant genes as well as making full use of QIAGEN’s proprietary Digital NGS technology. The BRCA 1/2 panel is set to be expanded by two additional genes, while the QIAact Actionable Insights Tumor Panel will be expanded to 30 genes from the current 12, along with a new capability to detect copy number variations (CNVs). Furthermore, a new version of the GeneRead QIAact Actionable Insight Tumor UMI liquid biopsy panel is planned with an industry-leading sensitivity of variant detection.
QIAGEN also intends to build up its portfolio of large multiplex QIAseq NGS panels for use on any NGS sequencer. This pipeline will support advanced applications for RNA profiling, immunology, oncology, immuno-oncology, metagenomics, and liquid biopsies.
Furthermore, QIAGEN will expand its Sample to Insight offering for NGS with continuous updates on its QIAGEN Clinical Insight (QCI) platform.
The GeneReader NGS System is purpose-built with flexibility and reliability to meet all critical demands of the clinical research market, from Sample to Insight. The capabilities of this unique system also include high-sensitivity detection in liquid biopsy samples, and compatibility with the QIAsymphony SP automation platform for higher-throughput sample processing. QIAGEN continues to add molecular content – GeneRead QIAact gene panels compatible with both FFPE and liquid biopsies – plus customized panels developed for customers’ specific requirements. Integrated bioinformatics provide streamlined, cloud-based analysis and interpretation. Currently, the GeneReader NGS System is for Research Use Only. To learn more, visit www.GeneReaderNGS.com
* For research use only
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 September 30, 2017, QIAGEN employed approximately 4,600 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).