NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) — Qiagen said yesterday that it will distribute Whatman's FTA DNA-handling products under a non-exclusive agreement.
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Under the agreement, Qiagen will pay an upfront fee and royalties for the rights to sell the kits in the life science research, molecular diagnostics, and applied-testing markets.
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The royalty payments will apply to all Qiagen sales that incorporate Whatman's products.
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Whatman's FTA instruments and FTA-based kits use "a chemically treated matrix" that lyses cells, immobilizes nucleic acids, and allows researchers to collect, transport, archive, and release DNA at room temperature.
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Qiagen said the FTA line is "highly synergistic" with its sample-prep technology portfolio, and that it expects the combination of tools to be useful in forensics, pharmacogenomics, biobanking, and genomics research.