Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation And QIAGEN Inc. Enter Into Long-Term Strategic Collaboration For Molecular Testing

TOKYO, Japan and HILDEN, Germany, June 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (TSE:8036) and QIAGEN N.V. (NASDAQ: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) have entered into a long-term strategic collaboration involving initiatives to deliver important advances in molecular testing.

Under terms of the agreement, both companies will bring their unique strengths to the collaboration: Hitachi High-Technologies is recognized as a leader in industrialized 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.

Initial projects for the collaboration involve developing new automation systems based on PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and NGS (next-generation sequencing) technologies. Both parties agreed that the collaboration could be expanded in the future to involve co-commercialization of products in specific geographic markets. Further terms of the collaboration are confidential.

"QIAGEN and Hitachi High-Technologies share much the same corporate culture such as customer focus as well as a commitment to technology and quality leadership," said Yasukuni Koga, Head of Medical Systems Sales and Marketing Div., 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. Moreover, developing a co-commercialization 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. Hitachi High-Technologies is a recognized leader in industrial automation and has a proven track record of innovation as well as a significant presence in the Asia-Pacific region," said 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."

About Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation

Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is engaged in activities in a broad range of fields, including Electronic Device Systems, Fine Technology Systems, Science & Medical Systems, Industrial & IT Systems, and Advanced Industrial Products. The company's consolidated sales for FY 2014 were more than ¥637billion [approx. USD 5.3 billion]. For further information, visit http://www.hitachi-hightech.com/global/ .

About QIAGEN

QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands-based holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions to transform biological materials into valuable molecular insights. QIAGEN sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights. Automation solutions tie these together in seamless and cost-effective molecular testing workflows. QIAGEN provides these workflows to more than 500,000 customers around the world in Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare), Applied Testing (forensics, veterinary testing and food safety), Pharma (pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies) and Academia (life sciences research). As of March 31, 2015, QIAGEN employed approximately 4,300 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at http://www.qiagen.com .

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, including without limitation its expected operating results, new product developments, new product launches, regulatory submissions, and financing plans are forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions 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, regulatory processes and dependence on logistics), variability of operating results and allocations between customer classes, the commercial development of markets for our products in applied testing, personalized healthcare, clinical research, proteomics, women's health/HPV testing and nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostics; changing relationships with customers, suppliers and strategic partners; competition; rapid or unexpected changes in technologies; fluctuations in demand for QIAGEN's products (including fluctuations due to general economic conditions, the level and timing of customers' funding, budgets and other factors); our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our products; 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 and protect our products from competitors' products; market acceptance of QIAGEN's new products, the consummation of acquisitions, and the integration of acquired technologies and businesses. For further information, please refer to the discussions in reports that QIAGEN has filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation Contacts:

Reiko Takeuchi, Aiko Matsumoto
CSR & Corporate Communications Dept., CSR Div.
TEL: +81-3-3504-7760

QIAGEN Contacts:

Public Relations:

Dr. Thomas Theuringer
Director Public Relations
+49-2103-29-11826
+1-240-686-7425
Email: pr@qiagen.com
http://www.twitter.com/qiagen
https://www.facebook.com/QIAGEN
pr.qiagen.com

Investor Relations:

John Gilardi
Vice President Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
+49-2103-29-11711
+1-240-686-2222
Email: ir@qiagen.com
ir.qiagen.com

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