Qiagen finalises acquisition of SABiosciences

Qiagen of the Netherlands has completed its US$90m acquisition of SABiosciences Corporation, a privately owned developer and manufacturer of disease- and pathway-focused PCR assay panels, based in Frederick, Maryland, US.

"We are pleased to now have completed the transaction," said Peer Schatz, chief executive of Qiagen. "Together with our new colleagues we will initiate the integration process. We believe this process will be a quick and smooth one."

SABiosciences designs PCR-based assay panels used in biomedical research and in the development of future drugs and diagnostics. They allow for high-performance analysis of DNA, RNA, epigenetic and microRNA targets in biological pathways associated with specific diseases or with defined pathways. They may be operated on Qiagen instruments in the future.

Until further notice, customers in the US can continue to order PCR assay panels from SABiosciences' website, while customers based outside the US can order from their local distributors.

Qiagen expects the transaction to add revenues of approximately US$24m in sales for 2010.

The company also intends to establish SABiosciences" Frederick site as a Centre of Excellence in biological content development and expand it in the near future.