QIAGEN Signs Agreement for the Acquisition of eGene

Business Wire, April 13, 2007

Strategic Transaction Adds Capillary Sample Separation Technology

VENLO, The Netherlands -- QIAGEN N.V. (Nasdaq:QGEN) (Frankfurt, Prime Standard:QIA), the world's leading provider of sample and assay technologies for research in life sciences, applied testing and molecular diagnostics, today announced, that its subsidiary QIAGEN North American Holdings, Inc. has signed a definitive merger agreement with eGene, Inc. (OTCBB:EGEI) pursuant to which eGene would become a fully owned subsidiary of QIAGEN North American Holdings, Inc. eGene is an early-stage company located in Irvine, California, that has developed and is commercializing a patented sample separation and analysis technology based on capillary electrophoresis. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close, subject to regulatory and stockholder approvals and customary closing conditions in the third quarter of 2007.

eGene has developed a multi-channel sample separation and analysis technology for nucleic acids that includes an affordable and robust instrument, software analysis package, and a selection of consumable cartridges specifically designed for specific high value applications in the molecular diagnostic and research markets. The HDA-GT12[TM] Genetic Analyzer is a revolutionary multi-capillary system which incorporates many capabilities into one easy to use platform, integrating automatic sample loading, separation, and data analysis.

The HDA system significantly improves the workflow and increases the productivity of medium to high throughput laboratories. No longer does the lab technician have to pour and wait for slab gels to solidify or laboriously load each nucleic acid sample into the gel individually. With the HDA system, the technician simply loads a 96 well plate containing the samples, sets the software specification and then walks away while the instrument automatically loads and processes the samples. At the end of the experiment, the technician can access a graphic representation of the collected digital data, giving accurate information of the DNA fragments (targeted genetic variants) with a separation in high resolution (2-5 bp) quality.

Currently, eGene's consumable cartridges are available for a number of research applications, including formats addressing the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) testing market, genetic testing including microsatellite analyses, DNA post-PCR separation and analysis at different resolutions, and RNA integrity quality control. eGene's product offering is therefore highly synergistic with QIAGEN's sample and assay technologies.

For example, in the market for transplantation-related (HLA) molecular diagnostics, eGene's consumable facilitate the use of QIAGEN's SSP PCR-based molecular diagnostics for HLA. The QIAGEN SSP HLA product line is IVD CE marked for clinical diagnostic use in the European Union and is for research use only in the US and Canada. Customers in the HLA market prepare what are often large numbers of conventional slab gels each month which they load with the samples on which the QIAGEN HLA assays have been performed to identify and match donors and recipients prior to organ transplantation. The eGene system now offers QIAGEN's customers in HLA testing the opportunity to automate the tedious, manual preparation and loading of slab gels. In addition the full-featured software analysis and result documentation represents a significant advantage in this diagnostic environment.

Next generation products will most likely include an expanded menu of products targeting use in research in applied testing and molecular diagnostics and may be combined with the Company's recently acquired QIAplex technology. With the QIAGEN QIAplex multiplex test technologies a patient sample can potentially be tested against multiple pathogens at the same time to rapidly determine the origin of the infection. QIAplex products are currently available as research use only products for the investigation of respiratory (ResPlex[TM] I; II, III), hospital-acquired, and bacterial (StaphPlex[TM]) infections as well as additional panels for other pathogens.

"eGene has developed a sample separation system for nucleic acid processing that is both affordable and robust" said Peer M. Schatz, QIAGEN's Chief Executive Officer. "With the eGene system, we are adding a consumable and instrument line which provides quality control capabilities following the use of sample technologies as well as a readout system for our assay technologies in one platform. The combination of novel and patented multiplex fluorescence detection designs with solid-state light sources and micro-optical collectors creates an advantage over conventional gel-based sample separation technologies. The eGene system permits a new dimension of ease of use and automation, freeing up the researcher's time for more important endeavors."

"The eGene solutions leverage and seamlessly combine with QIAGEN sample and assay technologies and create novel and highly attractive molecular diagnostics solutions to our customers in research in clinical research, applied testing and molecular diagnostics" Peer M. Schatz continued. "QIAGEN provides a comprehensive direct-sales and service channel as well as a complete and complementary product portfolio to increase the value for customers in these market segments."