Takara Bio Inc. (Shiga, Japan) today announced that it has granted QIAGEN GmbH (Hilden, Germany) a worldwide non-exclusive license to make, use and sell LA-PCR related products under the patents covering the LA-PCR technology, which Takara Bio owns. Including QIAGEN, the company has twenty four (24) licensees of its LA-PCR technology worldwide. Financial terms of the license were not disclosed.

LA-PCR technology is a breakthrough in PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) technology that expands its capability and heightens its application potential considerably. LA-PCR technology overcomes the disadvantages and defects of conventional PCR by enabling high-yield amplification of long and complex DNA fragments from genomic DNA. More importantly for the molecular researcher, DNA molecules produced with LA-PCR technology have significantly fewer mutations than those made using conventional PCR.

LA-PCR is well recognized as an essential technology in the field of genetic engineering around the world. The company continues to promote licensing of this technology as well as sales of its own products worldwide.

[ About Takara Bio Inc. ]

Takara Bio Inc. is an innovative biotechnology company based in Shiga, Japan. As a world leader in biotechnology research and development, Takara Bio was the first company to market PCR technology in Japan and is also the developer of the RetroNectin® reagent, which is a world-standard in gene therapy protocols. In addition to providing research reagents and equipment to the life science research market, Takara Bio has active research and product development activities in the fields of gene and cell-based therapy, and agricultural biotechnology; and is committed preventing disease and improving the quality of life for all people through the use of biotechnology. Through strategic alliances with other industry leaders, the Company aims to extend its reach around the world. More information is available at http://www.takara-bio.com.

[ About QIAGEN GmbH ]

QIAGEN GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding company and the leading global provider of sample and assay technologies. Sample technologies are used to isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from biological samples such as blood or tissue. Assay technologies are used to make such isolated bio-molecules visible. QIAGEN has developed and markets more than 500 sample and assay products as well as automated solutions for such consumables. The Company provides its products to molecular diagnostics laboratories, academic researchers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and applied testing customers for purposes such as forensics, animal or food testing and pharmaceutical process control. QIAGEN’s assay technologies include one of the broadest panels of molecular diagnostic tests available worldwide. This panel includes the digene HPV Test, which is regarded as a “gold standard” in testing for high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer, as well as a broad suite of solutions for infectious disease testing and companion diagnostics. QIAGEN employs more than 3,500 people in over 30 locations worldwide. Further information about QIAGEN can be found at http://www.qiagen.com/.