Strategic collaboration for molecular testing

Hitachi High-Technologies and QIAGEN have entered into a long-term strategic collaboration involving initiatives to deliver advances in molecular testing. Initial projects for the collaboration involve developing new automation systems based on PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and NGS (next-generation sequencing) technologies. Both parties have agreed that the collaboration could be expanded in the future to involve co-commercialisation of products in specific geographic markets.

Both companies will bring their own strengths to the collaboration: Hitachi High-Technologies is recognised as a leader in industrialised instrument development and manufacturing technologies, especially for life sciences and in vitro diagnostics, while QIAGEN brings its leadership in molecular sample-to-insight solutions for use in both the life sciences and clinical diagnostics. But the companies also share the same customer focus and commitment to technology and quality leadership, according to Yasukuni Koga, the head of the medical systems sales and marketing division of Hitachi High-Technologies.

“We believe those are crucial for the collaboration to achieve a meaningful position in the rapidly changing and highly competitive markets of in vitro diagnostics and life sciences, applying genetic engineering,” Koga said. “Moreover, developing a co-commercialisation collaboration with distribution and customer service in specific geographical regions would be highly accepted by customers of each company.”

“This new strategic partnership with Hitachi High-Technologies will form a very powerful platform to create new molecular testing solutions,” added Thierry Bernard, senior vice president, head of the molecular diagnostics business area and a member of the executive committee of QIAGEN.

“Combining the NGS-related and other molecular know-how of QIAGEN with the instrumentation expertise of Hitachi High-Technologies will enable us to bring innovative automation solutions to customers all over the world and across the continuum from basic research through to routine molecular diagnostics.”

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