QIAGEN and LabCorp Deepen Relationship with Widespread Use of Bioinformatics Solutions

Seven-year collaboration expands LabCorp’s use of QIAGEN’s QCI platform with QIAGEN’s Human Gene Mutation Database for rare and hereditary workflows

 

Hilden, Germany, and Germantown, Maryland, November 20, 2019 – QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced an agreement with LabCorp® (NYSE: LH) to extend their current QIAGEN Clinical Insights (QCI) license with QIAGEN’s Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD) of human genetic variants, the world’s largest database of inherited disease mutations. This agreement builds on the existing seven-year relationship between the two companies to develop, introduce and support new diagnostic tests. LabCorp will use HGMD across its network of laboratories to improve identification and interpretation of genetic variants within inherited diseases.

 

“Next-generation sequencing has become a powerful tool to identify genetic variants that play a role in inherited diseases, providing a flexible technology platform that allows us to go from large-scale to highly targeted test panels that can be used for both clinical diagnostics and in studies of new therapies and diagnostics,” said Marcia Eisenberg, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer for LabCorp Diagnostics. “Having access to the most comprehensive and up-to-date catalog of known mutations augments our existing variant classification expertise. This will allow us to continue to provide physicians and researchers with the best possible test interpretations, advancing LabCorp’s mission to improve health and improve lives.”

 

“Rare and hereditary diseases often create a difficult diagnostic odyssey for patients, families and healthcare systems. LabCorp recognizes this challenge. Extending access to HGMD, a component of QCI, will benefit both labs and patients waiting for answers related to hereditary diseases and appropriate treatments,” said Jonathan Sheldon, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Head of QIAGEN’s Digital Insights Business Area. “We have a longstanding relationship with LabCorp and are delighted to extend it. The expansion validates the importance of QIAGEN’s bioinformatics solutions in the interpretation of germline diseases. QCI with the inclusion of HGMD, and supporting automation capabilities, enables more informed and confident decisions for any indication, germline or somatic for all clinical testing labs.”

 

“QIAGEN’s HGMD provides us with access to curated, peer-reviewed evidence that will support more precise, comprehensive variant interpretation,” said Stan Letovsky, LabCorp’s Vice President of Data Sciences and Bioinformatics. “Pairing that with QIAGEN’s automated and scalable informatics framework facilitates our day-to-day secondary and tertiary bioinformatics analyses, and will help improve the quality of care for patients.”

 

Hereditary diseases affect more than 20 million people in the United States. Despite major technological advances that enable the cost-effective generation of large datasets that encompass all coding regions, including entire human genomes, challenges in linking a patient’s genetic variants to the growing body of knowledge of human disease genetics signifies that genetic testing often does not produce actionable information to guide diagnosis and better treatment decisions. This contributes to the difficult journey that patients and their families undergo and underscores the need for knowledge that will enable prioritization and interpretation of genetic variants that are linked to specific diseases.

 

HGMD is a leading repository for heritable mutations. With over a quarter of a million mutations and thousands more added quarterly, HGMD provides the evidence needed to transform variant data to actionable insights for researchers, physicians, and most importantly, patients.  Cited in 17,000+ publications, this easy to use database provides access to over 260,000 detailed mutation reports, 18,000 added each year, and more than 10,500 summary reports listing all known published inherited disease mutations. HGMD is included within the QIAGEN Knowledge Base which powers QIAGEN Clinical Insight-Interpret, a clinical decision support platform that offers evidence-based interpretation for germline or somatic indications. For more information please visit: https://www.qiagenbioinformatics.com/products/human-gene-mutation-database/.

 

About QIAGEN

QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands-based holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions that enable customers to gain valuable molecular insights from samples containing the building blocks of life. Our sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights. Automation solutions tie these together in seamless and cost-effective workflows. QIAGEN provides solutions to more than 500,000 customers around the world in Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare) and Life Sciences (academia, pharma R&D and industrial applications, primarily forensics). As of June 30, 2019, QIAGEN employed approximately 5,200 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at http://www.qiagen.com.

 

About LabCorp 

LabCorp (NYSE: LH), an S&P 500 company, is a leading global life sciences company that is deeply integrated in guiding patient care, providing comprehensive clinical laboratory and end-to-end drug development services. With a mission to improve health and improve lives, LabCorp delivers world-class diagnostic solutions, brings innovative medicines to patients faster, and uses technology to improve the delivery of care. LabCorp reported revenue of more than $11 billion in 2018. To learn more about LabCorp, visit www.LabCorp.com, and to learn more about Covance Drug Development, visit www.Covance.com.