Qiagen in Settlement Mode – Analyst Blog

Recently, Qiagen N.V. (QGEN) and Roche Holding AG (RHHBY) agreed to settle a dispute over distribution rights for a set of companion diagnostic products of Qiagen’s Manchester unit. The agreement saw both companies withdraw their claims filed against each other in the action pending in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

 

Roche retained its rights to distribute the KRAS and EGFR assays under the DxS TheraScreen label coupled with the rights to distribute future versions under certain conditions. However, Qiagen has the right to distribute these assays under the Qiagen label.

 

Furthermore, Qiagen also obtained exclusive distribution rights for all other assays, including future assays developed and manufactured at its Manchester unit. Under the terms of the agreement, Qiagen granted Roche the option to extend the term of the distribution agreement for the TheraScreen EGFR assay beyond 2011.

 

The settlement of the dispute provides a clear picture regarding the distribution of Qiagen’s pioneering TheraScreen companion diagnostics. They help physicians to customize therapies, reduce health care costs and prevent harmful treatments.

 

Qiagen, which competes with players like Life Technologies Corporation (LIFE), is a leading provider of innovative technologies and products for pre-analytical sample preparation and molecular diagnostics solutions. It has developed a comprehensive portfolio of more than 500 proprietary, consumable products, and automated solutions for sample collection.

 

The company specializes in nucleic acid and protein handling, separation, and purification. It also supplies diagnostic kits, tests, and assays for human and veterinary molecular diagnostics.