Qiagen reports better-than-expected 2012 performance

Qiagen has set ambitious financial targets for 2013 after reporting a better-than-expected performance during the last 12 months.

The life science company's net sales for 2012 came to $1.25 billion (791.61 million pounds), up by ten percent at constant exchange rates, with growth being achieved across all customer classes and regions.

Molecular diagnostics and applied testing were particularly strong areas for Qiagen last year, with the recent acquisitions of Ipsogen, Cellestis and AmniSure all having positive impacts on its bottom line.

In 2013, the company expects to expand its presence in the personalised healthcare field, launch a new sample-to-result next-generation sequencing workflow for clinical research and diagnostics and will see its QIAsymphony automation platform's installed base exceed 1,000.

Peer Schatz, chief executive officer of Qiagen, said: "We are well-positioned to achieve our goals for 2013 and fulfil our mission of making improvements in life possible."

The company also announced this week that its KRAS companion diagnostic for colorectal cancer has been adopted by Clarient, a leading oncology service lab in the US.