QIAGEN Announces Collaboration to Develop Latent TB Diagnostic Test

Qiagen has announced that it is to collaborate with the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (MPIIB), to develop a molecular diagnostic test which will assess the risk of an individual with latent tuberculosis (TB) developing active TB disease during their lifetime.

It is estimated that approximately one third of the world’s population is infected with the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in its latent form. It is critical to identify and treat these individuals as approximately 5-10% of them will go on to develop active, contagious, and life threatening TB.

The molecular reflex assay to be developed is based on significant research conducted at the MPIIB in Berlin and is expected to be a PCR based test targeting multiple biomarkers. It is intended for use on the QIAsymphony modular automation platform and will serve as a reflex test following QIAGEN's QuantiFERON-TB Gold test, the modern gold standard for detection of latent TB.

During TB infection, alterations in gene expression occur in immune cells circulating through the blood. These changes help to distinguish between latent and active disease. The aim of the collaboration between QIAGEN and MPIIB is to format the most suitable markers from the sets of biomarkers identified by the institute, into a molecular assay that can predict susceptibility or resistance to active TB in individuals with latent TB.

"We are excited to collaborate with the MPIIB to jointly create an innovative and advanced prevention tool against the global TB threat," said Dr. James Rothel, Vice President, Head of Scientific Affairs, at QIAGEN. "These assays are highly complementary to our QuantiFERON technology. We believe that the combination of 'pre-molecular' and DNA-/RNA-based molecular testing technologies is the next-generation solution for screening and identifying infected individuals before they develop active TB disease. This initiative has the potential to reduce the spread of infectious diseases significantly and also to generate cost savings by treating individuals before development of active TB. The collaboration with the MPIIB underpins QIAGEN's strategy to further expand its portfolio with new innovative assay technologies for profiling diseases to make improvements in life possible."