Germantown, MD and Hilden, Germany 1/31/18—Life science solutions firm QIAGEN has agreed to buy STAT-Dx for $147 million and an earnout of up to $44 million. STAT-Dx’s DiagCORE technology provides one-step, multiplex real-time PCR testing for common syndromes. Sales of the system are expected to total $7 million in 2018, as the system received a CE-IVD mark this month. Respiratory and gastrointestinal panels will be launched in Europe in the latter half of the year and in the US in 2019. QIAGEN will brand the system as QIAstat-Dx.

The companies have been partners with the system’s cartridge utilizing QIAGEN chemistries. “QIAstat-Dx represents the next generation of innovation for multiplex syndromic testing, using powerful QIAGEN technologies and a real-time PCR technology that will allow for a much broader range of applications and drive the dissemination of molecular testing,” stated QIAGEN CEO Peer M. Schatz. “The system is designed for significantly more cost-efficient test processing as required by the current reimbursement environment. Additional application areas for this system include companion diagnostics, quantitative analysis and immunoassay tests, offering customers a new level of flexibility and accurate diagnosis designed to support better outcomes for patients and healthcare systems.” The acquisition is anticipated to be dilutive to full-year 2018 adjusted EPS by around $0.05 per share and to be neutral in 2019. The transaction is scheduled to close in the second quarter.

According to QIAGEN, advantages of the DiagCORE technology include simultaneous testing for up to 48 molecular targets, speed, an easy-to-use cartridge-based workflow, the ability to use other real-time PCR tests on the system, and flexible panel design. All sample preparation is performed on the cartridge. QIAGEN’s presence in molecular diagnostics lab and in the PCR market suggests that it can capitalize on a newly launched technology with clear benefits to existing methods.