QIAGEN Introduces Novel Tools for miRNA Analysis

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Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin ASA.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this 
announcement. 
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Company expands portfolio by adding four new sample and assay
solutions for this rapidly emerging area of molecular research
Venlo, The  Netherlands  - June  25,  2008 -  QIAGEN  (Nasdaq:  QGEN;
Frankfurt, Prime Standard:  QIA) today announced  the launch of  four
new research products  for the  processing and  analysis of  microRNA
(miRNA). miRNA are short nucleic acid molecules which are  considered
to play  key  roles  in  gene  regulation  processes  and  also  have
significant implications in various diseases such as cancer. QIAGEN's
new product  offerings  add significant  capabilities  to  biomedical
research directed towards the identification of new molecular disease
targets, pharma and academic research. The products meet the  growing
need for  ready-to-use,  convenient  and reliable  sample  and  assay
technologies for  miRNA  applications  and are  expected  to  advance
scientific research in this important area of study.

As of today, scientists have identified more than 820 different miRNA
molecules within  the human  body, and  the number  is still  rapidly
growing. These molecules have been found  to be key variables in  the
regulation of gene activity in  cells by influencing the  translation
of genes into proteins as their functional equivalents within cells -
thus also being part of a  broader process known as RNA  interference
(RNAi).  Therefore,  miRNA  molecules  can  affect  both  the  normal
development and differentiation processes  in healthy tissue and  the
emergence of diseases.

Current research mainly focuses on  analyzing the expression and  the
function of various miRNA molecules, as one molecule can regulate the
activity of multiple different genes and one gene can be regulated by
many different miRNAs. In this context, miRNA molecules are  becoming
increasingly interesting both as potential therapeutic and diagnostic
targets. Studies have already  shown that various diseases  including
several types of  cancer and cardiovascular  diseases are  associated
with unusual or specific miRNA molecules or levels.

QIAGEN's new product offerings include both synthetic miRNA molecules
and miRNA inhibitors which can be  used to study the function of  the
molecules by either amplifying or inhibiting normal miRNA activity in
a given cell environment  and thereby inferring  the function of  the
miRNA molecule of interest. QIAGEN's library of available mimic miRNA
molecules and inhibitors covers all currently decoded human, rat  and
mouse miRNA molecules. Along with the mimic molecules and inhibitors,
QIAGEN also offers a kit for their delivery into various cell  types.
Moreover, the expanded product range includes customizable assays for
the reliable detection and  quantification of a  wide range of  miRNA
molecules found in  humans, rats and  mice. QIAGEN's miScript  Primer
PCR Assays  are  individually designed  according  to  specifications
provided   by   the   customers   in   applied   molecular   biology,
pharmaceutical industry and academic research to study the expression
of newly discovered miRNA molecules.

"We believe  that these  new QIAGEN  products have  the potential  to
represent important  contributions to  the  rapidly growing  area  of
miRNA research.  The  expansion of  our  leading portfolio  for  this
exciting field  underlines our  commitment to  this growing  area  of
research and further strengthens our  position as a leading  provider
of sample  and  assay  technologies  for  miRNA  research,"  explains
Constanze   Kindler,   QIAGEN's   Senior   Global   Product   Manager
Transfection. "The new products significantly facilitate entire miRNA
workflows, giving researchers powerful and convenient tools to  study
even  newly  discovered  miRNA  molecules,  which  is  of  particular
importance in this fast growing field."

QIAGEN markets a broad portfolio of sample and assay technologies for
the study of  various gene  regulation mechanisms  and gene  function
including DNA, RNA, miRNA, siRNA  and epigenetics. Among others,  the
portfolio includes a  RNA interference (RNAi)  set for cancer  genes,
siRNA  molecules  for  the  entire  human  genome  and  the  miScript
technology allowing for the simultaneous detection and quantification
of hundreds of different miRNA molecules.

These QIAGEN miRNA products are intended for research use. No claim
or representation is intended for its use to provide information for
the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease.


About RNAi and miRNA:
RNAi is a  mechanism which  allows to turn  "on" and  "off" genes  by
regulating the formation  (or expression) of  proteins. In 2006,  the
Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded  to Craig C. Mello and Andrew  Z.
Fire for research  in the field  of RNAi. Like  its synthetic  cousin
molecule siRNA,  the naturally  found small  microRNA, which  is  not
bigger than 24  base pairs, is  assumed to  play a key  role in  this
process. miRNAs correlate with various cancers and diseases and  seem
to be formed in DNA regions called introns, which until very recently
were considered  to have  no  specific function.  Today,  researchers
believe  that  these  regions  are  subject  to  accelerated  genetic
variation and help  explain what genetically  separates human  beings
from much less complex  organisms, which are  endowed with a  similar
number of genes.

Since microRNA  have been  discovered very  recently, the  market  is
still small, but it  is growing exponentially  and can be  considered
one of the  most rapidly  evolving fields in  today's life  sciences.
Estimates show that the global RNAi market could grow annually up  to
30 percent, and  that it  could reach  US$ 330  million in  worldwide
revenues by 2010.  QIAGEN believes  it is the  market and  technology
leader  in  RNAi   products  used  in   many  fields,  including   in
pharmaceutical research.

About QIAGEN:
QIAGEN   N.V.,    a    Netherlands   holding    company,    is    the
leading global provider of  sample  and  assay  technologies.  Sample
technologies are used to  isolate and process  DNA, RNA and  proteins
from biological samples such  as blood or tissue. Assay  technologies
are used to make isolated biomolecules visible for study. QIAGEN  has
developed and markets more  than 500 consumable  products as well  as
automated solutions. The company provides  its products to  molecular
diagnostics laboratories,  academic researchers,  pharmaceutical  and
biotechnology   companies,   and   applied   testing customers    for
purposes such as forensics, animal or food testing and pharmaceutical
process control. QIAGEN's  assay  technologies  include  one  of  the
broadest panels of  molecular diagnostic  tests available  worldwide.
This  panel   includes  the   only   FDA-approved  test   for   human
papillomavirus (HPV), the primary  cause of  cervical cancer.  QIAGEN
employs more  than  2,700  people in  over  30  locations  worldwide.
Further information about QIAGEN can be found at www.qiagen.com.

Certain of  the statements  contained  in this  news release  may  be
considered forward-looking statements within  the meaning of  Section
27A of the U.S. Securities Act  of 1933, as amended, and Section  21E
of the  U.S. Securities  Exchange Act  of 1934,  as amended.  To  the
extent that  any  of  the statements  contained  herein  relating  to
QIAGEN's  products,  markets,  strategy  or  operating  results   are
forward-looking, such statements  are based  on current  expectations
that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Such  uncertainties
and risks  include, but  are not  limited to,  risks associated  with
management of  growth  and international  operations  (including  the
effects  of  currency  fluctuations   and  risks  of  dependency   on
logistics),  variability   of  operating   results,  the   commercial
development of the applied testing markets, clinical research markets
and proteomics markets, women's  health/HPV testing markets,  nucleic
acid-based molecular diagnostics market, and genetic vaccination  and
gene  therapy   markets,  changing   relationships  with   customers,
suppliers and strategic  partners, competition,  rapid or  unexpected
changes  in  technologies,  fluctuations  in  demand  for   QIAGEN's,
products (including  fluctuations  due to  the  level and  timing  of
customers' funding,  budgets,  and  other factors),  our  ability  to
obtain  regulatory  approval  of   our  infectious  disease   panels,
difficulties in successfully adapting QIAGEN's products to integrated
solutions and  producing  such products,  the  ability of  QIAGEN  to
identify and develop new products  and to differentiate its  products
from  competitors'  products,  market  acceptance  of  QIAGEN's   new
products and the integration of acquired technologies and businesses.
For further information,  refer to  the discussions  in reports  that
QIAGEN has  filed with,  or  furnished to,  the U.S.  Securities  and
Exchange Commission (SEC).

Contacts:


Dr. Solveigh Mähler                Dr. Thomas Theuringer
Director Investor Relations        Associate     Director      Public
QIAGEN N.V.                        Relations
[phone]                  QIAGEN GmbH
e-mail:                            [phone]
[e-mail]        email:
                                   [e-mail]
Albert F. Fleury
Investor Relations North America
QIAGEN N.V.
[phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]


 
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Qiagen N.V.
Spoorstraat 50 KJ Venlo Netherlands

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