EANS-News: Epigenomics and QIAGEN Sign Collaboration Agreement in Colorectal Cancer Blood Testing

QIAGEN acquires options to mSEPT9 biomarker and DNA methylation
technologies; QIAGEN granted license to pursue Septin9 product
related R&D

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Joint Ventures/Cooperation/Collaboration/New Products/Molecular
diagnostics

Subtitle: QIAGEN acquires options to mSEPT9 biomarker and DNA
methylation technologies; QIAGEN granted license to pursue Septin9
product related R&D

Berlin, Germany, and Seattle, WA, USA, February 28, 2011 (euro adhoc)
- Epigenomics AG (Frankfurt Prime Standard: ECX), the cancer
molecular diagnostics company, and QIAGEN (NASDAQ: QGEN; Frankfurt,
Prime Standard: QIA) today announced that the companies have entered
into an option agreement allowing QIAGEN to develop and, should
QIAGEN exercise the option, commercialize a colorectal cancer blood
test based on Epigenomics' proprietary biomarker mSEPT9 and certain
DNA methylation analysis technologies.

Under the terms of the agreement, QIAGEN receives an option to a
worldwide non-exclusive commercial license to Epigenomics'
proprietary mSEPT9 biomarker and DNA methylation technologies for the
detection of colorectal cancer in blood. The option can be exercised
by QIAGEN within the next two years. Furthermore, Epigenomics has
granted QIAGEN a research license to the mSEPT9 biomarker and the
technologies. Under this license, QIAGEN is currently developing a
novel sample preparation technology that meets the requirements for
the future broad implementation of methylation-based molecular
diagnostics, such as Septin9-targeted blood testing for the detection
of colorectal cancer, on QIAGEN's modular molecular testing platform
QIAsymphony. Epigenomics will support QIAGEN in the R&D phase through
know-how transfer and the collection of clinical specimens as
required.

Geert Nygaard, CEO of Epigenomics, commented: "With a clear focus on
cancer molecular diagnostics and proven excellence in its fully
integrated sample preparation and assay technology platforms for
molecular testing, QIAGEN is an ideal further partner to give
laboratories and thereby physicians and patients broad access to
colorectal cancer blood testing as a convenient addition to currently
available methods for early detection. This new agreement
significantly expands our existing long-lasting and successful
partnership with QIAGEN, and we are looking forward to moving this
project to the next stage."

Under the terms of the option agreement, Epigenomics will receive an
upfront payment from QIAGEN and will be reimbursed for any R&D
support and clinical specimens provided during the R&D phase. Upon
QIAGEN exercising the option Epigenomics would receive a further
license payment. Once QIAGEN commercializes a colorectal cancer blood
test based on Epigenomics' biomarkers and technology, Epigenomics
would be entitled to royalties on QIAGEN's net sales as well as
certain commercial milestones upon reaching specific revenue targets.

"This agreement adds to our content pipeline and further broadens the
menu of assays optimized for superior performance on our novel
modular QIAsymphony and QIAensemble platforms", says Ulrich Schriek,
Vice President Global Business Development at QIAGEN. "QIAGEN has
several ongoing programs which target to expand our "Prevention"
assay portfolio which currently includes infectious disease assays as
well as HPV screening for the early detection of cervical cancer
risks. Prevention assays are key contributors to early detection of
disease and to significant reduction of disease burden."

By signing this agreement with QIAGEN, Epigenomics continues to
implement its dual business strategy of direct global
commercialization of its colorectal cancer blood test, under its own
brand name Epi proColon, and non-exclusive licensing of its
proprietary mSEPT9 biomarker and DNA methylation technologies to
leading companies in the diagnostic industry. Epigenomics employs
this strategy to maximize access to colorectal cancer blood testing
on a range of diagnostic instrument platforms and accelerate adoption
of this innovative and patient-friendly approach to the early
detection of colorectal cancer. Today, Septin9 blood testing for
colorectal cancer is available in Europe, the Middle East,
Asia/Pacific and the U.S.A. based on CE-marked diagnostic products
and laboratory-developed tests by Epigenomics and its licensing
partners.

-Ends-

Contact Epigenomics AG
Dr. Achim Plum
Sen. VP Corporate Development
Epigenomics AG
Tel +49 (0) 30 24345 0
pr@epigenomics.com
www.epigenomics.com

Notes to the Editor

About the Septin9 Biomarker and Colorectal Cancer Blood Tests

The mSEPT9 biomarker is at the core of the world's first molecular
diagnostic blood tests for the detection of colorectal cancer
commercialized by Epigenomics (Epi proColon) and its partner Abbott
Molecular (mS9) as IVD test kits in Europe and Asia/Pacific and its
licensees Quest Diagnostics (ColoVantageTM), ARUP Laboratories
(Methylated Septin9 Test), and Warnex Laboratories (Septin9 Test) as
laboratory-developed tests in the US and Canada, respectively. The
tests all detect cell-free methylated DNA of the SEPT9 gene, which is
indicative of the presence of colorectal cancer.

In numerous studies, Epigenomics and its partners have demonstrated
that the detection of the mSEPT9 biomarker in blood plasma correlates
with the presence of colorectal cancer and thus can be used as an aid
in the detection of this common cancer. These studies include the
successfully completed PRESEPT Study, a prospective evaluation of the
Septin9 biomarker in a cohort of almost 8,000 individuals
representative of a typical screening population.

Today, mSEPT9 is likely the most thoroughly tested and best studied
molecular diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer detection.

Lack of patient adherence to screening recommendations is the biggest
hurdle to an effective screening for colorectal cancer. Experts
believe that a blood test that is more convenient for the patients
than stool tests and colonoscopy could encourage more people to be
screened and thus be of medical and health economic benefit.

About Epigenomics

Epigenomics (www.epigenomics.com) is a cancer molecular diagnostics
company developing and commercializing a pipeline of proprietary
products. The Company's products enable doctors to diagnose cancer
earlier and more accurately, leading to improved outcomes for
patients. Epigenomics' lead product, Epi proColon, is a blood-based
test for the early detection of colorectal cancer, which is currently
marketed in Europe and is in development for the U.S.A. The Company's
technology and products have been validated through multiple
partnerships with leading global diagnostic companies including
Abbott, QIAGEN, Sysmex, and Quest Diagnostics. Epigenomics is an
international company with operations in Europe and the U.S.A.

Epigenomics' legal disclaimers. This communication expressly or
implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning
Epigenomics AG and its business. Such statements involve certain
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could
cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or
achievements of Epigenomics AG to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
such forward-looking statements. Epigenomics AG is providing this
communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any
forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.

The information contained in this communication does not constitute
nor imply an offer to sell or transfer any product, and no product
based on this technology is currently available for sale by
Epigenomics in the United States or Canada. The analytical and
clinical performance characteristics of any Epigenomics product based
on this technology which may be sold at some future time in the U.S.
have not been established.

About QIAGEN

QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding company, is the leading global
provider of sample and assay technologies. Sample technologies are
used to isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from biological
samples such as blood or tissue. Assay technologies are used to make
such isolated bio-molecules visible. QIAGEN has developed and markets
more than 500 sample and assay products as well as automated
solutions for such consumables. The company provides its products to
molecular diagnostics laboratories, academic researchers,
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and applied testing
customers for purposes such as forensics, animal or food testing and
pharmaceutical process control. QIAGEN's assay technologies include
one of the broadest panels of molecular diagnostic tests available
worldwide. This panel includes the digene HPV Test, which is regarded
as a "gold standard" in testing for high-risk types of human
papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer, as well
as a broad suite of solutions for infectious disease testing and
companion diagnostics. QIAGEN employs nearly 3,600 people in over 35
locations worldwide. Further information about QIAGEN can be found at
www.qiagen.com.

QIAGEN's legal disclaimer. 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, and to expected growth of QIAGEN's business in India in
particular, 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), our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our infectious
disease panels, 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 and the integration of acquired
technologies and businesses. 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).

end of announcement euro adhoc
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ots Originaltext: Epigenomics AG
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Further inquiry note:

Dr. Achim Plum
Sen. VP Corporate Development
Epigenomics AG
Tel: +49 30 24345 368
achim.plum@epigenomics.com

Branche: Biotechnology
ISIN: DE000A0BVT96
WKN: A0BVT9
Index: Prime All Share, Technology All Share
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