QIAGEN Introduces Novel Technology for Customized RNAi Assay Products
Worldwide first solution for flexible siRNA selection provides new
dimension of utility and performance in one of life sciences' most
promising disciplines
Venlo, The Netherlands, November 13, 2006 --- QIAGEN, (Nasdaq:
QGEN; Frankfurt, Prime Standard: QIA) the world's leading provider of
products for pre-analytical sample preparation and a leader in
molecular diagnostics, has introduced FlexiPlate siRNA, the worldwide
first product line for fully customized sets of siRNAs for RNA
Interference (RNAi) research.
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are little RNA molecules which
silence specific genes by inhibiting their expression. RNAi and the
ability to knockdown any gene is expected to create new benefits in
the future development of science and therapeutics. This year's Nobel
Prize in Medicine was awarded to Craig C. Mello and Andrew Z. Fire
for research in the field of RNAi.
Previously, biologists had to rely on pre-defined sets of siRNAs. Now
QIAGEN's novel FlexiPlate siRNA ensures a new dimension of
flexibility by allowing users to determine not only the exact RNAi
assay, but also exactly the amount of siRNAs needed for their
individual requirements. These advantages directly result in
significant cost savings in RNAi projects.
Efficient processing allows screening of more targets, hence more
RNAi projects can be completed. In high throughput RNAi-based
screening, Flexiplate is expected to lead to faster, less expensive
and more specific research. In low throughput RNAi, FlexiPlate allows
customers to quantify the number of RNAi assays needed, thereby often
leading to the ability to use 7 times as many assays when compared to
unquantified offerings.
Customers can select and order any set of siRNAs interactively via
QIAGEN's GeneGlobe web portal which hosts the world's largest
database of matching siRNA assays for all human and mouse genes as
well as the corresponding gene expression assays. The selected siRNA
sets are then quickly delivered in standard 96-well plates, which
allow direct processing by customers.
"The new FlexiPlate siRNA product line provides a dramatic step
forward for research applying RNAi. It expands QIAGEN's already broad
portfolio of RNAi solutions and capabilities and demonstrates the
company's well established and expanding leadership in this field",
said Dr. Bettina Haedrich, Global Product Manager RNAi at QIAGEN. In
2005 QIAGEN launched the worldwide first human whole genome siRNA
set, followed this year by the world's first siRNA sets for whole
mouse genome. "Most researchers know the problem of having too much
siRNA or too many siRNAs for their experiments. With FlexiPlate
siRNAs and GeneGlobe technology, they find now an effective tool
which makes their RNA screening more flexible, economical and
convenient", Dr. Haedrich added.
About RNAi and siRNA:
RNAi is a mechanism in molecular biology to "silence" genes by
preventing the formation (or expression) of the proteins which those
genes code for. The expression is inhibited by the introduction of
little RNA molecules into the cell. These so-called small interfering
RNAs (siRNAs) bind to and destroy their messenger RNA targets (mRNA),
preventing the synthesis of final proteins, which - for instance -
could account for certain diseases. Market estimates show that the
global RNAi market could grow annually up to 30 percent, accumulating
US$ 330 million in worldwide revenues by 2010. QIAGEN believes it is
the market and technology leader in RNAi products used in
pharmaceutical research.
Milestones in QIAGEN's Leadership as a supplier of RNAi:
2006 Worldwide first mouse whole genome siRNA set
Fully validated human kinase siRNA set
2005 Worldwide first human whole genome siRNA set
Matching RNAi & qRT-PCR assays: Gene Globe
Developed superior HiPerfect Transfection Reagent
2004 Exclusively licensed neural network design for RNAi
from Novartis
First whole genome human library set
2003 First purification methods that allows HTS synthesis
First human druggable genome siRNA set
2002 World-wide first RNAi library set for cancer
About QIAGEN:
QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding company, is a leading provider of
innovative technologies and products for pre-analytical sample
preparation and molecular diagnostics solutions. QIAGEN has developed
a comprehensive portfolio of more than 500 proprietary, consumable
products and automated solutions for sample collection, and nucleic
acid and protein handling, separation, and purification. QIAGEN also
supplies diagnostic kits, tests, and assays for human and veterinary
molecular diagnostics. The company's products are sold to academic
research markets, and to leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies; as well as to diagnostics laboratories. QIAGEN also
provides purification and testing solutions to applied testing
markets: such as forensics, animal or food testing, and
pharmaceutical process control.
QIAGEN employs more than 1,800 people worldwide. QIAGEN products are
sold through a dedicated sales force and a global network of
distributors in more than 40 countries.
Further information about QIAGEN can be found at 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 are
forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations
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 and risks of dependency on
logistics), variability of operating results, the commercial
development of the applied testing markets, clinical research markets
and proteomics markets, nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostics
market, and genetic vaccination and gene therapy markets,
competition, rapid or unexpected changes in technologies,
fluctuations in demand for QIAGEN's, products (including fluctuations
due to the level and timing of customers' funding, budgets, and other
factors), 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 its
products from competitors' products, market acceptance of QIAGEN's
new products, the integration of acquisitions of technologies and
businesses, and the timing of product introductions by our commercial
partners. For further information, refer to the discussions in
reports that QIAGEN has filed with, or furnished to, the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
###
Contact / Website:
Dr. Thomas Theuringer
Manager Public Relations
QIAGEN GmbH
Tel. + 49 (0) 2103-11826
e-mail: Thomas.theuringer@qiagen.com
Website: http://www.qiagen.com/Geneglobe
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