PLEASANTON, California, Dec. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY)
today announced an expansion of their distribution alliance with the life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to now include the qPCR and endpoint PCR portfolios1 from Kapa Biosystems. Merck
KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operates as MilliporeSigma in the US and Canada. Kapa Biosystems
was previously acquired by Roche in December of 2015.
The agreement will strengthen Roche's existing distribution relationship with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and allow customers broad access to these products through its strong distribution channels. The
distribution agreement includes all geographies except the US, Japan and Brazil. It does not include Kapa's Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) products. The
NGS portfolio remains a strong complement to the offering of Roche Sequencing Solutions and will continue to
be made available through Roche.
The novel PCR enzymes offered under the distribution agreement have high tolerance to common PCR inhibitors, thereby
increasing speed and specific activity, and improving fidelity. These characteristics enable high quality results and improved
workflows.2
"This agreement represents a powerful combination of Kapa's high-quality PCR and qPCR products with the excellent e-commerce
and distribution channels of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany," said Uwe Oberlander, Head of Roche Molecular Diagnostics. "We believe this partnership will provide improved access
to these products for researchers in many countries around the world."
About Roche
Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people's
lives.
Roche is the world's largest biotech company, with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, immunology, infectious
diseases, ophthalmology and diseases of the central nervous system. Roche is also the world leader in in vitro diagnostics
and tissue-based cancer diagnostics, and a frontrunner in diabetes management. The combined strengths of pharmaceuticals and
diagnostics under one roof have made Roche the leader in personalised healthcare – a strategy that aims to fit the right
treatment to each patient in the best way possible.
Founded in 1896, Roche continues to search for better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and make a sustainable
contribution to society. Twenty-nine medicines developed by Roche are included in the World Health Organization Model Lists of
Essential Medicines, among them life-saving antibiotics, antimalarials and cancer medicines. Roche has been recognised as the
Group Leader in sustainability within the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences Industry eight years in a row by the
Dow Jones Sustainability Indices.
The Roche Group, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is active in over 100 countries and in
2015 employed more than 91,700 people worldwide. In 2015, Roche invested CHF 9.3 billion in R&D
and posted sales of CHF 48.1 billion. Genentech, in the United
States, is a wholly owned member of the Roche Group. Roche is the majority shareholder in Chugai Pharmaceutical,
Japan. For more information, please visit www.roche.com.
*All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.
1 Kapa Biosystems products are For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
2 Data on file.
For further information, please contact:
Roche Sequencing Solutions
Elizabeth Baxter
Corporate Communications
Mobile: 925.523.8812
elizabeth.baxter@roche.com