Germantown, Maryland, and Hilden, Germany, March 28, 2019 – QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced the launch of new solutions designed to advance cancer research as part of its highlights at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2019 Annual Meeting from March 29 to April 3, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia. More than 30 studies being presented at AACR 2019 cite molecular testing tools from QIAGEN’s Sample to Insight portfolio.
These products involve:
- New solution bundles for all QIAseq and QIAact DNA panels for next-generation sequencing (NGS), integrating its market-leading CLC Genomics Workbench and QIAGEN Clinical Insight-Interpret software with these assays for seamless secondary analysis and tertiary interpretation of complex genomic data. The proprietary technology driving the superior performance of QIAGEN’s NGS panels was described in a recent Nature article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-41215-z
- QIAGEN is introducing its exoRNeasy Midi and Maxi Kits for isolation of exosomes and other extracellular vesicles from urine and other samples, as well as the miRNeasy 96 Advanced QIAcube HT Kit for automated purification of total RNA, including miRNA, from serum and plasma samples. These are two novel liquid biopsy workflows for cancer research designed to enable non-invasive extraction and purification of ribonucleic acid (RNA).
“We look forward to engaging with leaders in cancer research at AACR 2019. QIAGEN is committed to providing solutions that enable breakthroughs in cancer research, diagnosis and treatment. We are rapidly expanding our portfolio of novel approaches for non-invasive liquid biopsies, adding new tools for the discovery and validation of biomarkers, as well as supporting the development of new tests for precision medicine,” said Dr. Thomas Schweins, Senior Vice President and Head of QIAGEN’s Life Sciences Business Area. “In addition, we are excited to offer researchers a new option to significantly simplify workflows by integrating cutting-edge bioinformatics for variant calling and interpretation with our Sample to Insight NGS panels.”
exoRNeasy Kits
QIAGEN’s new exoRNeasy Midi and exoRNeasy Maxi Kits use membrane affinity technology to efficiently isolate highly pure RNA from exosomes and other extracellular vesicles circulating in most common biofluids, including urine, serum, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and cell culture supernatant. Exosomes are tiny enclosures that can transport molecules such as RNA from one cell to another.
Results with the exoRNeasy Kits are fast, consistent and highly suited to sensitive downstream applications, with a convenient procedure providing access to RNA in just one hour. RNA purification can be automated on the QIAcube Connect sample processing instrument.
The Midi column enables efficient processing of smaller sample volumes (1 ml serum/plasma and 4 ml or less of urine), while the Maxi format allows the use of large sample volumes (up to 4 ml serum/plasma, 16 ml of urine and 32 ml of cell culture supernatant) to detect low-abundance RNAs with high confidence.
miRNeasy 96 HT kit
The miRNeasy 96 Advanced QIAcube HT Kit is designed for automated high-throughput purification of cell-free total RNA, primarily miRNA and other small RNA, from small volumes of serum and plasma on the QIAcube HT instrument. Unlike kits from other suppliers, the miRNeasy 96 Advanced Kit combines ease of use and a phenol-free protocol without any compromise on RNA quality or yield.
The miRNeasy 96 Advanced Kit represents the mid- to high throughput version of QIAGEN’s miRNeasy Serum/Plasma Advanced Kit. The phenol-free protocol uses easy-to-automate spin column technology in 96 well format and minimizes hands-on time to remove contaminants and inhibitors, yielding high-quality RNA ready for downstream analysis. The kit is compatible with the majority of blood collection devices, and can be automated on the QIAcube HT, a version of the QIAcube designed for automated mid- to high-throughput nucleic acid purification in 96-well format.
QIAseq and QIAact DNA panels now include QIAGEN’s market-leading bioinformatics solutions
Also at AACR 2019, QIAGEN is launching new options for customers to streamline NGS analysis and interpretation by bundling QIAGEN’s cutting-edge bioinformatics solutions with preconfigured QIAseq DNA panels and custom panels for use on any sequencing platform, as well as with QIAact targeted gene and custom panels for use on QIAGEN’s GeneReader NGS System. The new assay-and-software bundles include QIAGEN’s CLC Genomics Workbench and QIAGEN Clinical Insight-Interpret (QCI-I) for QIAseq DNA panels and QCI-I for QIAact panels. QIAGEN’s GeneReader Sample to Insight NGS system already includes QIAGEN Clinical Insight-Analyze (QCI-A) for data analysis.
CLC Genomics Workbench is the industry’s leading software for secondary analysis, with point-and-click processing, excellent sensitivity and precision in calling variants for different DNA regions and coverage levels. The Variant Call Format (VCF) results file uploads seamlessly to QCI-I, reducing the time, cost and complexity of variant interpretation for researchers. QCI-I provides access to the unrivaled QIAGEN Knowledge Base of scientific and clinical findings, and generates sample reports placing NGS findings in biological context, including actionable insights to support sound research decisions.
More than 30 QIAGEN-related presentations at AACR 2019
More than 30 scientific presentations at AACR 2019 highlight research utilizing QIAGEN’s broad portfolio of Sample to Insight solutions. Among the highlights of abstracts being presented:
- mRNA and gDNA from circulating tumor cells, extracellular vesicles and cell-free DNA – 1369 / 8
- Workflow evaluation for molecular characterization of single circulating tumor cells in blood samples of patients with gynecological malignancies – 2277 / 6
QIAGEN’s exhibition booth (No. 3106 at AACR 2019) will feature demonstrations of a range of QIAGEN’s Sample to Insight solutions. To learn more about QIAGEN’s presence at AACR, please visit https://aacr.qiagen.com/ or follow the Twitter handle @QIAGEN during the conference.
Additionally, QIAGEN will host an AACR exhibitor spotlight presentation, “Deconstructing the Complexity: Tailored Sample to Insight Tools that Put Your Data into Action,” at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday April 2 in Exhibit Theater A, Hall B. Speakers include Dr. Sheryl Elkin of N-of-One, Dr. John A. Martignetti of Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Ravindra Kolhe of Augusta University, and Dr. Jean-Noël Billaud of QIAGEN Bioinformatics.
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 (primarily forensics), Pharma (pharma and biotech companies) and Academia (life sciences research). As of December 31, 2018, QIAGEN employed about 5,000 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at http://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, launches, regulatory submissions, collaborations, markets, strategy, taxes or operating results, including without limitation its expected sales, adjusted net sales and adjusted diluted earnings per share 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; and the other factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in Item 3 of 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 (SEC).