Qiagen and Idaho Technology have reached a settlement agreement for rights to a suite of intellectual property relating to Corbett's Rotor-Gene instruments
The agreement covers Idaho Technology patents surrounding rapid polymerase chain reaction methods and instrumentation, the use of SYBR Green I in PCR reactions, melting curve analysis (rights obtained through Roche Diagnostics ), analysis methods of DNA melting data, specifically high resolution melting (HRM), and others.
The parties further agreed to jointly file a stipulation of dismissal with prejudice with the District Court in Salt Lake City, USA, to end the pending legal proceedings.
This settlement follows Idaho Technology's January 2007 settlement with Cepheid involving similar intellectual property and extends Idaho Technology's programme to protect its broad and valuable IP portfolio.
"We are pleased with this settlement which was a condition for our transaction with Corbett and which provides customers of Corbett cyclers and Qiagen the key freedom to operate elements required to develop, market and operate performance leading real-time PCR detection technologies based on Corbett's innovative Rotor-Gene", said Peer Schatz, Qiagen's chief executive officer.
"Idaho Technology is a company built on innovation; we are pleased to have reached a settlement with Qiagen/Corbett and we look forward to working with Qiagen.
"Protecting our intellectual property will continue to be exceedingly important to our business" said Randy Rasmussen, president, Idaho Technology.
