Shots: 

• Recently, Qiagen entered into a collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca to develop companion diagnostics for chronic diseases using Qiagen’s QIAstat-Dx system 

• Today, at PharmaShots, we are joined by Richard Watts from Qiagen, who sheds light on their collaboration agreements with AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly, leveraging their syndromic testing platform, QIAstat-Dx 

• Qiagen has partnered with over 30 companies to develop and commercialize companion diagnostics. 

Saurabh: Congratulations on the collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca! Would you mind shedding light on the terms of this agreement in exploring precision medicines in chronic diseases?   

Richard: The expansion of our Master Collaboration Agreement with AstraZeneca focuses on the development of companion diagnostics for future therapies which is now also addressing chronic diseases. This is a major step in taking our initial foundation and know-how of precision medicine success in oncology into new disease areas. By leveraging our QIAstat-Dx platform and AstraZeneca’s expertise in targeted therapies, the collaboration will focus on creating genotyping assays that identify specific biomarkers of chronic diseases. These tests will allow providers to potentially perform testing while patients are undergoing routine exams – allowing for fast decision-making on potential targeted treatment.   

The collaboration with AstraZeneca is not the only partnership we have signed with pharma companies based on QIAstat-Dx. Together with Eli Lilly and Company, for instance, we recently announced that we would use the platform for the development of an in-vitro diagnostic that detects APOE genotypes which play a key role in Alzheimer’s disease and treatment.  

Saurabh: Could you please elaborate on the Syndromic Testing Platform QIAstat-Dx and what makes it different from other PCR techniques available?   

Richard: QIAstat-Dx is a syndromic testing platform that allows for the easy, simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens or biomarkers in a single test. Its advanced multiplexing capabilities allow for the identification of over 20 targets within about an hour. This is done within easy-to-use cartridges that contain everything for sample processing and onboard reagents and its user-friendly interface. QIAstat-Dx also sets itself apart by access to cycle threshold (Ct) values and amplification curves, which provide additional insights not available with end-point PCR.  

Saurabh: What features of QIAstat-Dx make it a more compelling choice to the examiner in diagnostics?   

Richard: QIAstat-Dx is an intuitive, powerful tool that simplifies complex molecular testing for clinical examiners. The platform’s sample-to-answer workflow and automated results interpretation reduce manual steps and make it accessible for users. Additionally, multiplex results in about an hour could allow access to genotyping results while patients are undergoing routine exams. Thus, allowing clinicians to potentially get access to the information they need to make decisions on targeted therapies. The fact that it takes only one hour to generate results on this platform helps to move precision medicine closer to the patient and into the secondary setting, where specialty care providers can make rapid decisions while the patients are still undergoing clinical examination.  

Saurabh: Under this agreement what are the therapy areas and molecules where QIAstat-Dx would be used as companion diagnostics?   

Richard: In this partnership, we are addressing chronic diseases. Unfortunately, we cannot share further details due to confidentiality reasons.  

More generally speaking, QIAstat-Dx is amenable to clinical applications that make use of minimally invasive techniques for patients, such as blood, saliva, swabs and cytology samples that are easily accessible for molecular profiling.    

Saurabh: Also, tell us a little bit about the collaboration with Neuron23 & Helix to develop CDx. 

Richard: Our partnership with Neuron23 and Helix focuses on developing companion diagnostics for neurodegenerative diseases. Neuron23 brings valuable insight into the molecular basis of these conditions, while Helix’s genomic expertise will enhance clinical development and commercialization through real-world linked clinico-genomic datasets. Together, the collaboration aims to create diagnostics that identify patients with genetic markers linked to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. The assays we are developing with Helix are NGS-based, which is another proof point for the breadth of our offering to pharma and commercial labs. Whether it is NGS, PCR, multiplex or digital PCR. QIAGEN has the right testing technology to support the approval and global market access to novel therapeutics.    

Saurabh: Qiagen has collaborated with 30 companies to develop and commercialize companion diagnostics. How do these collaborations align with your long-term goals and can we hope for more collaborations on the way?   

Richard: Our network of partnerships aligns with our vision to make improvements in life possible by expanding precision diagnostics and improving patient outcomes globally. Each collaboration allows us to bring new, validated diagnostics to market, targeting oncology, neurology, and chronic diseases. These partnerships have strengthened our position as a leader in companion diagnostics, enhancing our ability to support precision medicine initiatives across therapeutic areas. We remain committed to pursuing further collaborations that will expand the impact we can make and bring transformative solutions to the healthcare community.    

Image Source: Canva 

About the Author: 

Richard Watts 

Richard Watts is Vice President of Business Development for Translational Sciences and Precision Diagnostics at QIAGEN working to establish partnerships for the development and global commercialization of Companion Diagnostic programs with pharmaceutical companies. Richard consults on technology, clinical and regulatory aspects that support the strategic, operational and commercial elements of drug-diagnostic co-development programs. In the 15 year tenure within his current role in business development, he has structured many companion diagnostic co-development programs, master collaboration agreements and other transactional deals in the space of precision medicine. Richard also has a role in the scouting and diligence of new enabling technologies for diagnostic application.    

Prior to his position in business development he managed and implemented QIAGEN’s marketing strategy in the pharmaceutical sector with a focus on translational medicine and pharmacogenomics. Before joining QIAGEN Richard held senior managerial, commercial and technical positions at Invitrogen, Nanogen, Packard and Bio-Rad. Richard is an associate fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and graduated in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Bath.  

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