Qiagen enters agreement with precision diagnostics company

Published: 20-Feb-2019

The German company has received an exclusive license to use Ares Genetics’s database and toolbox, to develop bioinformatics and assays for antimicrobial resistance research

Ares Genetics has chosen assay technology provider, Qiagen, for a strategic licensing agreement. Qiagen has received an exclusive license to develop and commercialise Ares’ general bioinformatics offerings and services for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research.

Under the terms of the agreement, German-based Qiagen has access to the AI-based antimicrobial resistance genetics database, called ARESdb, and the ARES bioinformatics AMR toolbox, AREStools.

Ares Genetics, an Austrian subsidiary of German-based Curetis, has retained the rights to use ARESdb and AREStools for AMR research, customised bioinformatics services, and the development of specific AMR assays and applications for the Curetis Group, as well as third parties.

Due to the services and products expected to result from the agreement, Dr Andreas Posch, the Managing Director and CEO of Ares Genetics, believes that the partnership well-positions the company to make ARESdb a key resource for the issue of antimicrobial resistance. In this situation, Qiagen’s customers may also obtain a diagnostic use license from Ares Genetics.

Commenting on the agreement, Jonathan Sheldon, Senior VP and Head of Qiagen Bioinformatics said: “Partnering with Ares Genetics to leverage their genomic content with Qiagen’s expertise in bioinformatics, NGS and PCR technologies, we will expand our portfolio of solutions to help the global community fight these infections,”

Curetis has collaborated with Sandoz, and organised an additional technology evaluation project for ARESdb. On the heels of these agreements, Dr Achim Plum, CBO of the Curetis Group and Managing Director of Ares Genetics, thinks the alliance with Qiagen will leverage the Genetic Antibiotic Resistance and Susceptibility (GEAR) assets, obtained from Siemens in September, 2016.

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