QIAGEN and Roche settle dispute over distribution agreement for TheraScreen companion diagnostics
QIAGEN N.V. announced that it has signed an agreement with Roche Molecular Systems Inc., a unit of Roche Holding AG, resolving a dispute over distribution rights for a set of companion diagnostic products developed and manufactured by QIAGEN’s Manchester subsidiary DxS Ltd. Subsequently, the parties withdrew their claims filed against one another in the action that was pending in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Under the terms of the agreement, Roche maintained its rights to distribute the two assays it currently distributes (KRAS and EGFR) under the DxS TheraScreen® label and, under certain conditions, to distribute future versions thereof. QIAGEN obtained rights to distribute these assays under the QIAGEN label and also obtained exclusive distribution rights for all other assays, including future assays, developed and manufactured at QIAGEN’s Manchester subsidiary. QIAGEN intends to use the QIAGEN TheraScreen® label for the assays it distributes. QIAGEN also granted Roche the option to extend the term of the distribution agreement for one of the assays, the TheraScreen® EGFR assay, beyond the term of this agreement which ends in 2011.
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Roche”, said Peer Schatz, CEO of QIAGEN. ”The agreement provides a clear distribution plan for QIAGEN’s pioneering TheraScreen® companion diagnostics. Companion diagnostics help physicians to customize therapies, greatly reduce healthcare costs and prevent harmful treatments for patients suffering from serious diseases.”
“We are pleased to maintain our distribution agreement and to continue to provide access to DxS TheraScreen companion diagnostics that have the potential to improve cancer patient care,” said Paul Brown, Ph.D., President and CEO of Roche Molecular Systems.
Other news from the department politics & laws
