QIAGEN invests in new Barcelona expansion to strengthen QIAstat-Dx

The diagnostics specialist QIAGEN plans to establish a new facility in Esplugues de Llobregat near Barcelona to enhance the production and development of its QIAstat-Dx system. This decision is part of a multi-year investment strategy focused on diagnostics for respiratory, gastrointestinal, as well as meningitis and encephalitis tests. Starting in 2026, the new facility will cover the entire value chain of QIAstat-Dx. Precision medicine, in particular, is set to benefit from this expansion, as QIAGEN has recently entered into collaboration projects with Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca. The new center will also serve as a competence center for microfluidics and system and assay development. The demand for rapid diagnostic solutions is continuously increasing, which will further support QIAGEN's growth in the field of infection diagnostics and precision medicine. Covering 8,000 square meters, production lines, offices, clean rooms, laboratories, and logistics areas will be created, complying with the highest standards for energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. For instance, LEED Platinum certification is being sought. The QIAstat-Dx system, based on multiplex real-time PCR technology, provides laboratory tests with disposable cartridges in approximately one hour. It can simultaneously identify multiple genetic targets, offering insights through cycle thresholds and amplification curves. The US FDA has already approved the system for four panels; CE markings for two panels are present in the EU and other regions. CEO Thierry Bernard emphasizes how the system proved its worth during the COVID-19 pandemic. QIAstat-Dx enabled rapid syndromic testing and delivered time-critical information for healthcare. The system is set to be extended to a broader range of medical needs in the future, from infection detection to precision medicine. Originally developed by a start-up in Barcelona, QIAGEN acquired this technology in 2018. Recently, the company introduced two new tools advancing microbial analysis and allowing researchers to customize tests individually.