Qiagen NV will expand access to its digene HPV Test across China through a co-marketing agreement with KingMed Diagnostics, China's largest independent laboratory network. Through the agreement, KingMed Diagnostics will function as a centralized lab, allowing smaller hospitals and those in less-populated areas to offer the digene HPV Test and send samples to KingMed Diagnostics for processing and analysis. The agreement is an additional milestone for Qiagen's molecular diagnostics franchise in China and its focus on driving growth in emerging markets. The Digene HPV Test was first registered in China in 2000 and is now available in many of the country's top-tier hospitals and private labs.

"We are pleased to work with Qiagen, an industry-leading multinational company," said Liang Yaoming, Chief Executive Officer of KingMed Diagnostics. "Our nationwide network, expertise and proven track record make us the perfect partner for Qiagen to increase its reach in China."

Qiagen expects the collaboration to expand access to the test in second-tier and third-tier cities, as well as in less developed regions where the cervical cancer burden is highest.

"By joining hands with KingMed Diagnostics, we can bring our lifesaving HPV testing technology not only to more women but also to the regions where it is most needed," said Dr. Victor Shi, Asia Pacific President of Qiagen. "Qiagen and KingMed Diagnostics have had a long and fruitful collaboration which we are now significantly expanding. We are pleased to work more closely with the leading provider of clinical diagnostic testing in China and to make progress toward saving more lives from cervical cancer."

-Richard Park