NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) — Qiagen said yesterday that it will distribute Whatman's FTA DNA-handling products under a non-exclusive agreement.
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.
The royalty payments will apply to all Qiagen sales that incorporate Whatman's products.
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.
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.