Qiagen partners with Ares Genetics

Qiagen N.V. has entered into a broad agreement with Ares Genetics, a subsidiary of Curetis N.V., to develop innovative bioinformatics and assay solutions to accelerate research targeting the growing global health challenges posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Qiagen has acquired an exclusive license to leverage Ares Genetics’ proprietary antimicrobial resistance database, ARESdb, as well as bioinformatics tools and workflows from the ARES technology platform, AREStools, in Qiagen’s bioinformatics products and services for researchers. Qiagen also obtained a non-exclusive worldwide license to develop and commercialize molecular research assays using ARESdb content with Qiagen next-generation sequencing (NGS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) solutions. Powered by artificial intelligence, ARESdb is likely the most comprehensive, global and continuously updated proprietary knowledge base on genetic antibiotic resistance markers and their diagnostic relevance.

This partnership has the potential to greatly facilitate the engagement with public health and AMR research communities in the further development and expansion of ARESdb. The collaboration with Ares Genetics builds on Qiagen’s broad portfolio for infectious disease research and adds to other AMR-related initiatives. 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. 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 design of assays. Together with Qiagen’s current sample preparation solutions, GeneGlobe portal and dedicated bioinformatics solutions, ARESdb will expand Qiagen’s market-leading Sample to Insight offering of workflows for research into antimicrobial resistance. Qiagen solutions support basic and clinical research on a range of bacterial infections, including healthcare-associated and community-acquired infections. Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed.