QIAGEN Acquires Corbett Life Science

QIAGEN N.V. announced that it has acquired Corbett Life Science Pty. Ltd. (Corbett), a privately-held developer, manufacturer, and distributor of life sciences instrumentation headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The transaction is valued at approximately US$66 million in cash (subject to certain customary purchase price adjustments), US$4 million in restricted QIAGEN common stock and performance and development milestone payments and other contingencies of up to approximately US$65 million over the next four years.

Corbett is best known for having developed the world's first rotary real-time PCR cycler system - the Rotor-Gene™ - a system used to detect real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reactions which make specific sequences of DNA and RNA targets visible through amplification and quantifiable through real-time measurement of such amplification. The addition of this proprietary PCR detection technology extends QIAGEN's molecular testing solution portfolio and enhances QIAGEN's options to offer sample and assay technology solutions spanning from sample to result.

"We are pleased to offer our customers the choice of a superior platform of technologies for the entire workflow process - from sample to result," said Peer Schatz, Chief Executive Officer of QIAGEN. "Corbett technologies are excellent complements to our portfolio of current and future molecular testing solutions, including our modular processing platform QIAsymphony. We expect this transaction to contribute significantly to our leading positions in molecular diagnostics, applied testing, pharmaceutical and clinical research as well as academic research."

Molecular testing is performed in three steps: 1) sample preparation, 2) assay setup and 3) detection. QIAGEN has leading positions in the first two steps and for the third step, detection, has historically designed its leading portfolio of PCR-tests and technologies for use on systems from various vendors, including Corbett's Rotor-Gene cycler systems. As such, QIAGEN's instruments, consumables, and a number of regulated tests are already optimized for use with Corbett instruments. Although QIAGEN will continue its open platform strategy to offer tests for use on third-party detection systems, it will significantly increase the focus of new developments of its regulated tests, platforms, and testing technologies for use with the Rotor-Gene and successor systems which are currently in development.

Corbett has built a leading position in instrumentation used to perform PCR analyses. Its primary product families are the Rotor-Gene real-time PCR cycler and the CAS benchtop robots.

Unlike other PCR cyclers, the Rotor-Gene uses a unique centrifugal rotary design and is ideal for even the most demanding requirements of real-time thermo-optical analyses. It has a broad optical range, with six channels spanning UV to infra-red wavelengths, proven near-perfect well-to-well thermal and optical uniformity and a fast data acquisition rate, all features which are essential for applications from standard to very advanced. The CAS benchtop robots are designed to prepare molecular tests (assay setup) and are an excellent fit with QIAGEN products such as the QIAcube and the Biorobot EZ1.

"The fit with QIAGEN is tremendous and will be very beneficial for customers of both companies," John Corbett Junior said. "We have a long-standing relationship with QIAGEN and QIAGEN already has more than 30 molecular diagnostic assays optimized for the Corbett Rotor-Gene PCR cycler. Many of our customers are QIAGEN customers as well. In addition, QIAGEN's technology leadership in molecular sample and assay technologies, its global reach and extensive marketing, combined with strong relationships with researchers and leading laboratories around the world bring exciting opportunities for Corbett."

Source: Qiagen GmbH