QIAGEN Expands Diagnostics Menu in Partnership with Seegene

In a new collaboration, Seegene Inc. (Soul, Republic of Korea) will use its proprietary next-generation qPCR technology in developing new multiplex assays for the flagship platform of Qiagen NV (Venlo, Netherlands and Hilden, Germany).

Seegene will develop a menu of multiplex assay panels for the modular QIAsymphony RGQ MDx automation platform, the first project being panels to profile infectious diseases. Seegene’s technologies for multiplexed real-time PCR analysis enable simultaneous amplification of up to 20 target genes per tube in a single reaction, saving time, labor, and cost. QIAGEN will perform clinical validation studies and will market validated tests worldwide as QIAGEN-branded assays, beginning in Europe and Asia.

“We are excited to bring to our customers valuable new tests for QIAsymphony RGQ MDx by partnering with Seegene. Seegene’s technologies can test for multiple targets with high sensitivity, reproducibility, and the panels offer significant medical value”, said Thierry Bernard, Qiagen senior vice president, “QIAsymphony is adding significant value for users as the growing menu of clinically proven diagnostics allows labs to consolidate more tests on one system. The new tests will be highly synergistic with our current menu. Already one of the most widely placed medium-throughput systems, QIAsymphony is revolutionizing workflows with cost-effective processing from sample to insight.”

Dr. Jong-Yoon Chun, Seegene founder and CEO, said, “Collaborating with QIAGEN to commercialize comprehensive multiplexed panels based on our innovative PCR chemistry technologies will expand Seegene’s global reach. Because our breakthrough MuDT technology enables detection and quantification of multiple target genes in a single channel without melt curve analysis, this is a true next-generation qPCR technology. We look forward to working with QIAGEN to create innovative assay panels that improve life for patients and meet the workflow needs of molecular laboratories.”

QIAsymphony is a modular system that integrates workflow with three modules: sample preparation, assay setup, and real-time PCR. QIAsymphony RGQ MDx received FDA clearance in early 2014. The menu of diagnostics running on the QIAsymphony platform so far includes 13 CE-IVD marked tests and 6 FDA-approved or cleared tests. QIAGEN’s first highly-multiplexed assay running on its Rotor-Gene Q, the RespiFinder RG Panel for 21 respiratory pathogens, was recently launched in Europe.

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