Digene agrees to $1.6B takeover by Qiagen

Gaithersburg, MD-based Digene has agreed to be bought out by Netherlands-based Qiagen for $1.6 billion in a marriage of diagnostics outfits. Qiagen already manufactures Digene's Rapid Capture System, which labs need for three of Digene's diagnostic tests. Executives say that it was that corporate tie that spurred merger talks between the two companies. Analysts say the acquisition will give Qiagen a leg up in the expanding market for HPV testing. Some observers were also careful to note this morning that this is the second big acquisition of a Maryland biotech company. MedImmune is being bought out as well, raising some concerns about the state's efforts to attract and retain companies in the fast-growing field.

- see this release on the deal
- read the report from the Baltimore Sun

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