QIAGEN announced the European launch of a unique calreticulin (CALR) mutation assay to aid in establishing the diagnosis of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN)

The importance of CALR mutations in MPN was first described in December 2013 by the group of CeMM Principal Investigator Robert Kralovics. In April 2014 QIAGEN obtained the exclusive worldwide license rights to intellectual property and know-how from CeMM covering specific mutant alleles of the CALR gene. 

QIAGEN’s new ipsogen CALR RGQ PCR Kit (ipsogen CALR assay) has been developed for the detection of CALR mutations in genomic DNA from patients which are suspected of MPN. It enables the identification of the two major types of CALR mutations and detects additional mutations in specific areas of this disease-relevant gene.

MPN are a group of blood cancers characterized by significant symptoms and complications such as thrombosis and a high risk of transformation into acute leukemia. The different forms of MPN combined affect nearly 250.000 patients in Europe and 300.000 patients in the US and roughly 2.5 in every 100.000 worldwide.

As the mission of CeMM is to achieve maximum scientific innovation in molecular medicine to improve healthcare, we are happy to see this novel diagnostic tool for a widespread blood disorder being introduced into practice by one of the leading companies for biomedical technologies. 

QIAGEN Press Release

Publication: Klampfl T, Gisslinger H, Harutyunyan AS, Nivarthi H, Rumi E, Milosevic JD, Them NC, Berg T, Gisslinger B, Pietra D, Chen D, Vladimer GI, Bagienski K, Milanesi C, Casetti IC, Sant'Antonio E, Ferretti V, Elena C, Schischlik F, Cleary C, Six M, Schalling M, Schönegger A, Bock C, Malcovati L, Pascutto C, Superti-Furga G, Cazzola M, Kralovics R. Somatic mutations of calreticulin in myeloproliferative neoplasms. N Engl J Med. 2013 Dec 19;369(25):2379-90.