NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – Curetis said today that its subsidiary Ares Genetics has entered into a licensing agreement with Qiagen for Ares' bioinformatics tools for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research.
Under the agreement Qiagen has received an exclusive license to develop and commercialize general bioinformatics offerings and services for AMR research based on ARESdb, a database containing genetic information on AMR, and AREStools, a bioinformatics toolbox.
Qiagen also obtained a non-exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize molecular research assays using ARESdb content with Qiagen's next-generation sequencing and PCR technologies. Qiagen's customers may also obtain a diagnostic use license from Ares. Qiagen will integrate the ARESdb content with its CLC Genomics Workbench and build a software-as-a-service portal providing standardized analysis for research and enabling flexible assay design.
"The collaboration with Ares builds on an already broad portfolio for infectious disease research tools and adds to other AMR-related initiatives," Jonathan Sheldon, senior vice president and head of Qiagen's bioinformatics group, said in a statement. "Qiagen will leverage the AMR database from Ares Genetics with its expertise in bioinformatics, assays, and services, enabling the research community to accelerate the fight against AMR."
Ares retains the rights to use the tools for AMR research, customized bioinformatics services, and to develop specific AMR assays and applications for Curetis as well as for third parties.
"After the strategic collaboration agreement with Sandoz to develop a digital anti-infectives platform and an additional technology evaluation project for ARESdb with a global diagnostics player, the bioinformatics alliance with Qiagen is a further example of our partnerships with industry leaders which leverage the GEAR assets acquired from Siemens in September 2016 that form the nucleus of ARESdb," Achim Plum, chief business officer of the Curetis Group and managing director of Ares Genetics, said in a statement.