Qiagen licenses biomarker for blood disorder diagnosis

Qiagen has acquired an exclusive worldwide license to a promising biomarker that could aid the diagnosis of a group of blood disorders.

The biomarker calreticulin (CALR) has been found to present mutations in an estimated 15 percent of cases of myeloproliferative neoplasms, a group of blood disorders involving overproduction of blood cells that can cause severe complications.

Developed by and licensed from CeMM Vienna, the technology will now be used in the creation of new assays and reliable diagnostic tools for these dangerous diseases.

The company already has an exclusive license for the JAK2 V617F mutation, which is present in about 75 percent of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Peer Schatz, chief executive officer of Qiagen, said: "Together, the JAK2 and CALR biomarkers give us the ability to deliver personalised insights regarding diagnosis, prognosis and disease management for patients with myeloprofilerative disorders."

This comes in the same week that the company announced plans to expand and upgrade its US Germantown facilities, while also consolidating its Maryland sites into two campuses.